Shahriar Wahid, David Penton, Peter Taylor, Auro Almeida, Kapil Gnawali, Gayatri Joshi, and

Susan Cuddy
December 2024
Citation
Shahriar, W., Penton, D. J., Taylor, P., Almeida, A.C., Gnawali, K., Joshi, G., Cuddy, S.M., 2024.
Sustaining Nepal Basin Information System, CSIRO, Australia.
Copyright © CSIRO & WECS 2024
All material in this publication is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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Attribution is as per the citation.
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Important disclaimers
CSIRO advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general
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The Australian Government has funded this publication through the Department of Foreign

necessarily those of the Australian Government.

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Acknowledgments

The Australian Embassy in Nepal funded the creation and production of this report, with
CSIRO co-funding. The authors thank the Australian Ambassadors to Nepal, Her Excellency
Ms Leann Johnston and Her Excellency Ms Felicity Volk, and Ms Kavitha Kasynathan, Head of
Development, Australian Embassy Nepal, for supporting this initiative. The writing of this
report relied on information provided by various Nepal government agencies. The authors
respectfully acknowledge government staff participating in a stocktake survey conducted by
shop. In addition to those who contributed directly to this
report, we would like to express our gratitude to WECS Secretaries and Joint Secretaries for
their careful reviews of this document and for guiding the preparation.

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Contents

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................iii
List of abbreviations .....................................................................................................vi
1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Purpose of the report .............................................................................. 1
1.2 ..................................... 2
1.3 Process of report preparation.................................................................. 3
2 Needs assessment ............................................................................................ 6
2.1 ....................................... 6
2.2 Basin information users .......................................................................... 7
2.3 Information needs ................................................................................ 10
2.4 Data needs .......................................................................................... 12
2.5 Data sources ....................................................................................... 13
3 Stocktake........................................................................................................ 15
3.1 Data collection and database system .................................................... 16
3.2 Existing related information systems ..................................................... 19
3.3 Challenges and gaps ............................................................................ 23
4 Sustainability .................................................................................................. 31
4.1 Strategy ............................................................................................... 31
4.2 Potential actions .................................................................................. 33
5 Looking forward ............................................................................................... 40
The Australian experience..................................................................... 41
Glossary .............................................................................................. 44
References .......................................................................................... 46
Agency URLs ........................................................................................ 47
Existing related information systems URLs............................................. 48

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Figures
Figure 1 The river basins of Nepal (adapted from the river basin planning study, WECS
2024) ........................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 2 Process of report preparation ........................................................................... 4
Figure 3 Workshop discussion ....................................................................................... 5
Figure 4 High- ...................... 15
Figure 5 Components of Bagmati DSS (Source: Final report. Bagmati decision support
system assessment. IWMI, April 2022) ......................................................................... 20
Figure 6 Annual average rainfall distribution in different basins of Nepal ........................ 21
Figure 7 WECS organisational chart ............................................................................. 27
Figure 8 Two phases of a continuous iterative process of developing and sustaining
............................................................................... 32
Figure 9 Existing WECS DSS framework (Source: Technical Note 9, DSS Framework, River
Basin Planning Study, WECS, 2024) ............................................................................. 36
............. 37

Tables
.............................. 11
.................................................. 12
Table 3 Matching information requirements and data/information source ...................... 13
Table 4 Summarised survey results for quantitative responses ...................................... 17
Table 5 Questions and responses related to challenges and gaps identified by WECS ..... 23
Table 6 WECS's approximate current capacity .............................................................. 27
Table 7 Challenges identified by
agencies .................................................................................................................... 29
-year
cycle ......................................................................................................................... 33
Table 9 Types of planning initiatives ............................................................................. 44
Table 10 Description of different dataset types ............................................................. 44
Table 11 Distribution of dataset ................................................................................... 45

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List of abbreviations

AAB Agromet Advisory Bulletin

ADB Asian Development Bank
BDSS Bagmati Decision Support System
CDSS Corporate Decision Support System
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
DEM Digital Elevation Model
DHM Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Government of Nepal
DoI Department of Irrigation, Government of Nepal
DSS Decision Support System
DWRI Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, Government of Nepal
DWSSM Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management
GIDC Government Integrated Data Centre
GIS Geographical Information System
GLOF Glacier Lake Outburst Flood
GW Groundwater
HECRAS Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System
HPC High-Performance Computing
ICOLD International Commissions on Large Dams
ICID International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage
ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
IPFRI International Food Policy Research Institute
ITC Information Technology and Communication
IWMI International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka
IWRM Integrated Water Resources Management
MoALD Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development
MoWS Ministry of Water Supply
NITC National Information Technology Centre
NWRP Nepal's National Water Resources Policy
MIKE Software developed by DHI, Denmark
MIKE SHE Software developed by DHI, Denmark
MIKE 11 Software developed by DHI, Denmark
MIKE HYDRO Software developed by DHI, Denmark
MUS Multiple Use System
MW Mega Watt
NAM Rainfall-runoff model developed by DHI, Denmark
NGOs Non-governmental Organisations
QA/QC Quality Assurance and Quality Control
SOP Standard Operating Procedures

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SW Surface water
SWAT Soil and Water Assessment Tool
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNESCAP United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific
WASH Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene
WB The World Bank
WCD World Commission on Dams
WEC World Energy Council
WECS Water and Energy Commission Secretariat
WRIC Water Resources Information Centre
WRIS Water Resource Information System
WW Wastewater
WWF World-Wide Fund for Nature

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1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose of the report

This report outlines a plan to sustain Nepal Basin Why this report?
Information System to support Nepal's National
Water Resource Policy. The plan builds on existing This report outlines a plan to
data management practices, systems, and past sustain Nepal Basin
projects. Information System and
support Nepal's National
Nepal's river basins are vital to the nation's Water Resource Policy. It
development, agriculture, and livelihoods. However, focuses on enhancing basin
basin water-related data faces several limitations, data collection, storage, and
including unevenly distributed monitoring coverage, analysis to promote
infrastructure, and fragmented data systems. This consistent and accurate
report bridges these gaps by outlining a systematic monitoring of water
approach to enhance basin data collection, storage, resources. The report
recommends a four-year,
and analysis. By building on existing techniques,
two-phased cycle for
current technologies, and methodologies,
sustaining
Basin Information System can promote consistent, Information System, with ten
fit-for-purpose, and accurate monitoring of how actions in each cycle,
much water is available, where, when, how much is focusing on governance, data
required, who has access, and the risks and management, and team
opportunities of basin water management training - phase 1 targets
development. Timely and reliable basin information government agencies and
enables policymakers and communities to make donors with modest services
informed decisions, plan for contingencies, for the public. Phase 2 aims
to enhance WECS's
implement effective disaster preparedness
institutional capability and
measures and reduce risks and mitigation impacts.
secure funding for system
This report envisions a collaborative approach that expansion.
brings together government agencies, research
institutions, and local communities. By fostering
cooperation and information sharing, can be a powerful
tool for promoting sustainable water resource management, fostering water security, and
safeguarding ecosystems. This report aims to unite stakeholders and maintain cohesive
efforts in collating water data.
The stocktake conducted within this report will empower Nepal to make data-driven
decisions, develop targeted water management strategies, and adapt to the challenges
posed by a changing climate. By harnessing a robust basin Information System, Nepal can
ensure the wise and sustainable use of its precious water resources, benefiting the nation
and its people for future generations.

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1.2 Importance of
Obtaining basin planning information from a central system is a significant challenge in
Nepal. Basin planning information includes many pieces of information, such as estimates of
how much water is available and when that data is available. Basin planning information also
contains estimates of how much water is needed in different parts of basins and which
sectors might need this water. This information is stored in fragmented databases,
sometimes containing only partial data.
Projects that obtain finance are typically uncoordinated and often unable to realise the
broader benefit from their investments.
Global experience demonstrates that basin information systems are needed to manage and
organise hydrological data, information, and knowledge within a basin planning organisation
(Vertessy, 2017). They provide a framework for storing, retrieving, sharing information,
analysing, and using it to make informed decisions. A centralised and comprehensive
database is needed for basin water development and effective management, as stipulated in
the National Water Resources Policy, 2020. It will improve efficiency and productivity,
enhance communication and collaboration, and support innovation and growth.
The Government of Nepal established the Water and Energy Commission (WEC) in 1975 to
develop water and energy resources in an integrated and accelerated manner. The
commission was formed in response to the growing need to properly manage and utilise the
country's water and energy resources. In 1981, a permanent secretariat was established to
assist the government and other related agencies in formulating policies and planning
projects in the water resources sector. This secretariat was named the Water and Energy
Commission Secretariat (WECS) and has since been at the forefront of water resources
management in Nepal.
The primary responsibility of WECS is to provide policy and technical advice to the
government of Nepal, different ministries related to water resources, and other related
agencies in developing policies, plans, and programs for the sustainable management and
utilisation of water resources in the country. It is mandated in the National Water Plan 2005 to
coordinate national-level water planning, advise the National Planning Commission on
budget allocation and provide techno-economic clearance to water resources projects.
Clearances are mandatory for hydropower with more than 10 MW capacity, irrigation with
more than 5,000 ha command area, drinking water supplying more than 100,000 people, or
projects involving more than 10 km of river for multi-purpose, inter-basin and transboundary
projects. Over the years, the commission has contributed to significant hydropower project
development, irrigation systems, and other water-related infrastructure in Nepal (YEC and
TMS, 2018).
WECS plans to establish the Water Resources Information Centre (WRIC) and the Water
Resources Information System (WRIS) as per the National Water Plan (2005). The WRIS used
a port provided by the Government Integrated Data Centre (GIDC). The 2015 Nepal
earthquake damaged the WRIS facility, which is now not operational.
With the introduction of the Water Resources Policy in 2020 and the proposed Water
Resources Act, there is a growing need for a strong water planning and coordinating agency to

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implement Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the river basins (Figure 1).
WECS is responsible for preparing and updating the river basin master plans and is one of
Nepal's main authorities responsible for water resources management. As such, they will
need continuously updated data and information related to water resources planning,
allocation, and usage in all river basins of the country. Though efforts were made in the past
to develop water models, they were used to investigate scenarios or serve specific enquiries.
is needed to provide continuously updated data and
information.

Figure 1 The river basins of Nepal (adapted from the river basin planning study, WECS 2024)

1.3 Process of report preparation

This report was developed in partnership between CSIRO and WECS. They worked together to
understand needs and status and then document a plan
for its sustainability (Figure 2).

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Figure 2 Process of report preparation

WECS coordinated consultation and input from other Nepali agencies and stakeholders. It is
recognised that basin information is dispersed among government and non-government (e.g.
ICIMOD) agencies. Sometimes, the agencies have overlapping functions and capabilities (e.g.
modelling, researching, and developing hydrological methodologies). Therefore, a whole-of-
the-government survey was implemented to collate related information. The first two phases
of this project reviewed government policy and strategy documents, past and ongoing project
reports, and various peer-reviewed papers. A questionnaire survey assessed the staff and
organisational capability related to .
A workshop was held in Kathmandu, and 19 representatives were present, including ten from
the federal government, the university sector, and development organisations. The
participants discussed (Figure 3) the following questions: What must
Information System do? Who are its users? What information does it need to store? What
related/connected systems exist?

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Figure 3 Workshop discussion

The WECS technical team also provided feedback to queries as needed. The process ensures
that the report reflects the aspirations enshrined in national water policy, builds on past
efforts, and aligns with ongoing or upcoming new relevant projects in Nepal. A draft version of
this report was presented at a workshop on November 21st, 2023. The feedback and
comments received have been incorporated into the final version.

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2 Needs assessment

WECS is mandated to provide basin information and management services to the

government, the public, and the private sector to improve lives and livelihoods.
Information System aims to contribute to providing authoritative and
actionable information on basin development trends and opportunities.
This section presents objectives, users, data and
information needs, and data sources. Its information reflects a comprehensive review of
policies, reports, user surveys, and workshop feedback.

2.1 Objectives of
Information System
Nepal's National Water Resource Policy (NWRP, What is the function of

carry out multipurpose development of the available Information System?

water resources contributing to the economic
Nepal Basin Information
System supports the National
The overarching goal is detailed in seven objectives: Water Resource Policy
(NWRP, 2020) goals by
1. Judiciously use water resources to fulfil
collating data for the effective
multisectoral demands with ease.
implementation of Integrated
2. Contribute to enhanced productivity of the
Water Resources
nation. Management (IWRM) in
3. Make science and fact-based decisions. Nepal.
4. Ensure a coordinated effort amongst the Information System provides
State, provinces, and local levels. information on water
5. Fulfil citizen demands of water and water- availability, sectoral water
related products. demand, and use, supports
6. Manage water resources with minimal water resources research,
negative impact on the environment. aligns with development
7. Reduce water-induced disasters and related priorities, provides timely
risks. information to the public, and
generates information on
The Water Resources Policy (2020) objectives are water-related disaster risk
realised through 11 working strategies (unofficial reduction.
translations):
1. Water resources will be developed and
managed based on river basin master plans.
2. Water resources will be developed and managed based on IWRM principles and
considering multipurpose uses.

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 3. Water resources will be conserved, developed, managed and regulated by suitable
institutions.
4. Stakeholders and the private sector shall be encouraged to participate in water
resources conservation and development.
5. Water resources research will be encouraged and used.
6. Institutions and human resources in the sector shall be further developed.
7. The roles and responsibilities of the federation, provinces, and local municipalities
shall be laid out for coordinated water resources development.
8. Areas and people adversely impacted by water development shall be cared for.
9. Benefits of water development will be shared based on the principles of equity.
10. Water resources shall be managed by minimising the negative impacts on society,
culture, and the environment.
11. Watershed or basin management shall effectively control and reduce water-induced
disasters and risk reduction.
supports the Water Resources Policy (2020) goals and
objectives guided by the working strategies. Thus, the purpose of
System collate data from various sources to produce timely, accurate, reliable and
comprehensive information at basin, sub-basin, watershed and catchment scales to enable
effective and efficient implementation of IWRM in
realised through the following objectives.
1. To assess water resources availability, sectoral water demand, and use (supports
NWRP Objective 1).
2. To assess the productivity of water resources development and management
(supports NWRP Objective 2).
3. To support water resources research and private sector activities (supports NWRP
Objective 3).
4. To assess alignment with federal, provincial and local water resources development
priorities (supports NWRP Objective 4).
5. To provide the public with timely water development information in basins (supports
NWRP Objective 5).
6. To support environmental protection and improved water services provision (supports
NWRP Objective 6).
7. To generate information on water-related disaster risk reduction (supports NWRP
Objective 7, provisional).

2.2 Basin information users

is useful to government agencies, NGOs, water utilities
and researchers. Government agencies, at all levels, from local to federal, will use the system
to make informed decisions about water and agricultural management, hydropower
development, land use planning, urban development, flood control, environmental
protection, and other issues. NGOs will use the system to advocate for sustainable water
resources management. Water utilities will use information on basin water demand
forecasts, water withdrawal from rivers, and other water sources. Researchers will use the

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system to develop new water management tools and to inform policy decisions.
Basin Information System will provide a platform to share information between government
agencies, businesses, and NGOs and improve communication and coordination on water
resources management issues.
The following sections provide a summary of potential users. The list is incomplete, and the
system will have many more users than those listed below.

Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS)

WECS plays a leading role in basin planning in Nepal. The staff have a wide range of
engineering and policy backgrounds and work in the assessment and future planning of basin
water availability and utilisation. They will need to analyse historical and future scenarios to
understand current conditions and the effects of various planning and inflow scenarios,
including:
Water resource usage assessment and determination of sustainable yields
Water storage and irrigation infrastructure planning
Agricultural, industrial, and domestic use of water
Water security planning
The whole of catchment management, including water quality management.

Department of Electricity Development (DoED)

The DoED issues the survey and construction/generation licences for hydropower projects.
Long-term average hydraulics in a river is the base for fixing capacity and energy output from
hydropower projects. The DoED collects river hydraulic data for shorter periods during the
feasibility study of a hydropower project. They install manual and automatic gauges at the
project sites. Water level measurement is taken daily and in real-time, while direct discharge
measurement is done monthly. The sediment data are collected daily in four rainy months
and twice a month during eight dry months. The data is collected for the feasibility period
(usually 2-3 years).
regularly
updated information on basin-wide water distribution, use for long-term hydropower
development and management and operating cascade hydropower development.

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development annually produces statistical

information on Nepalese agriculture. It collects data from several federal, provincial, and
local government organisations and uses the data for agricultural planning and monitoring.
Access to trusted and regular seasonal climate and water forecasts would benefit
agricultural planning. Short-term outlook forecasts can reduce water wastage in irrigation
systems, achieve environmental outcomes, help water managers meet high and low flow
needs for rivers and wetlands and support on-farm water management decisions. Seasonal

8 | CSIRO
streamflow forecasts can support important decisions on water allocations, cropping
strategies, drought risk reduction, water supply schemes, etc.

Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM)

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology collects hydrometeorological data across the
country. It uses rainfall and streamflow observations, numerical weather predictions, and
hydrological models to forecast and warn about possible flood events. This information
provides the basis for flood response by emergency services and other flood managers.
Water resource managers must respond to large water inflows into dams and rivers.
The DHM data is managed at the Government Integrated Data Centre (GIDC) 's high-
performance computing (HPC) system. The department is one of the key data supporters of
. Their data will be key to understanding basin water
availability, providing short-term outlook and seasonal forecasting, and developing basin
plans.

Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management (DWSSM)

DWSSM is the custodian of the National Water, sanitation, and Health Database (NWASH).
They provide data on water supply projects, water sources (reservoirs, pipes, taps),
community sanitation, health care facilities, public toilets, unserved populations, disposal
points, drainage, flood benchmarking, water quality, etc.
The department can use river basin information to forecast water availability and demand.
This information can be crucial to planning water withdrawals during a drought year. They can
also obtain additional water quality information at the basin scale and take steps to protect
public health. More importantly, basin information can help long-term planning and ensure a
sustainable water supply in the future.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority

should integrate data on short-term, medium-term, and

long-term forecasting, climate change, agriculture, urban development, water supply, and
sanitation in a single platform. This can be a powerful tool for identifying at-risk people and
assets, disaster response, damage assessment, recovery plans, and communicating the
response to the public.

Department of Water Resources and Irrigation (DWRI)

DWRI mandate to plan, develop, maintain, operate, manage and monitor different
modes of environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable irrigation and drainage
systems from small to larger scale surface systems and from individual to community
groundwater schemes . The system could provide valuable water information on water
sources, extractions and irrigation areas.

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Ministry of Forests and Environment (MOFE)

The MOFE can use a basin information system to make well-informed decisions regarding the
sustainable management of forests and the environment. The system can provide insights
into potential threats such as deforestation, erosion, and water scarcity by integrating data on
water flow, land use, and ecological conditions within river basins. This information can then
be used to design and implement targeted interventions such as reforestation programs,
watershed protection and forest conservation strategies. The information can also support
evidence-based policy development related to forest management, watershed protection,
and climate change adaptation. Additionally, the ministry can use
System to align its strategies with the national water resource policy.

Researchers

Researchers, such as universities and research-focused NGOs, will use basin information to
develop and improve analytical methods and technologies and improve understanding. Their
uses of data will be numerous and include:
Specific basin, catchment, or river studies
Understanding the uncertainties of data
Development of new or improvement of modelling approaches
Refinement of the existing theory of hydrological processes
Research and development of new systems to support water management
Studies to specifically develop or inform water policy development.

Citizens

Public users of basin information have a broad range of interests, including:

Basin water resource status
Basin water use
Water storage needs
Basin infrastructure
Current river flows.

2.3 Information needs

Table 1 outlines the information needed to address
objectives.

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Table 1 information requirement

Information needs
System Objectives

1. To assess water resources Water balance by catchment and month, surface water
availability, sectoral water storage (volumes, levels, per cent full) by month,
demand, and use groundwater recharge, water demand and use by
source, sector and month, current water availability,
water (SW, GW, WW) water quality status, high-
resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), detailed
maps of river networks, and land use for agriculture and
irrigation systems management.

2. To assess the productivity of Water productivity indices, storage reliability reporting,

water resources development potential storage capacity, water loss to irrigation
and management districts, evaporation, canal density reports, water
stress maps, river flow reports, hydropower generation
potential, forecasting of water availability, flood and
drought vulnerability mapping, and past/current flood
and drought analysis reports.
Forecast of climate change impact on water availability.

3. To support water resources Access to all non-sensitive data and information.

research and private sector
activities
4. To assess alignment with Provincial and local water resources development
federal, provincial and local plans.
water resources development
priorities
5. To provide the public with Maps of current streamflow and trends, snowmelt
timely water development reporting, snow coverage maps, glacial lakes, water
information in basins availability forecasting, water allocation and use, water
stress/scarcity map and report, drought map
visualisation, water quality reports and maps,
groundwater quantity and quality maps, water use by
sectors, water use by province and per capita.
National Water Act, policies, regulations, plans.

6. To support environmental Ecosystems atlas, access to safe drinking water and

protection and improved water improved sanitation, water economy and
services provision socioeconomic indicators.

7. To generate information on Flood/drought forecasting and early warning system,

water-related disaster risk GLOF early warning, Community-based flood early
reduction warning system.

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2.4 Data needs
A wide range of data is required to generate
System. The data must be identified as part of the information service development lifecycle,
provides a
generalised set of spatial, temporal, and static data requirements for
Information System based on existing similar systems.
Table 2 data needs

Category Data requirements

Spatial Catchment boundaries

data
Streamlines
Topographic information
Land use data
Infrastructure locations and attributes (surface area, storage volumes,
tube wells, etc.)
Geological information soil type, soil characteristic (texture, depth,
water holding capacity, infiltration, field capacity, wilting point) ,
groundwater attributes (location and depth)
Groundwater - dependent environments
Flow gauging locations
Irrigation zones
Political and cadastral boundaries

Temporal Measured river flow time series

data
Measured rainfall time series
Other climate variables time series (evaporation, air temperature,
relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed and wind direction)
Water extraction time series
Irrigation periods, duration and timing
Groundwater-surface expression flows

Static Loss and infiltration rates

data
Operational rules for infrastructure
Flood management approaches
Water-sharing arrangements

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 Category Data requirements
Demand management arrangements
Drought management arrangements
Hydropower potential
Energy for pumping and treatment
Water-borne diseases
Sanitation systems
Wetland locations and status

WECS (2019) contains a comprehensive list of basin data. Various agencies identified the
following data that are related to but are not regularly
monitored:
Snow depth in alpine areas
Sediment carried by rivers (referred to as "bed load")
Water quality in rivers and lakes
Groundwater resources
Diseases affecting crops
Pest control
Losses associated with diseases and pests.

2.5 Data sources

The data and information initially needed in are available in
Table 2. Data and information availability are briefed in Section 3.1. Table 3 matches the
different potential sources of data
and information.
Table 3 Matching information requirements and data/information source

# Information Data and information source

requirement

1 Water balance by catchment and month, surface The River Basin, Planning and DSS
water storage (volumes, levels, per cent full) by models provide a strong
month, groundwater recharge, water demand and foundation for hydrology and
use by source, sector and month, current water water allocation modelling
availability, water (SW, GW, WW) water quality needed to generate this
status, high-resolution DEMs, detailed maps of information. However, these
river networks, and land use for agriculture and
foundational works were done
irrigation systems management
using commercial software

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 # Information Data and information source
requirement

(MIKE). Ongoing use of the

software will incur license fees to
update the models every year.

2 Water productivity indices, storage reliability This is post-processed

reporting, potential storage capacity, water loss to information that will have to be
irrigation districts, canal density reports, water processed in-house at WECS.
stress maps, river flow reports, hydropower Several standard operating
generation potential, forecasting of water procedures (SOP) must be
availability, flood and drought vulnerability established, and new
mapping, and past/current flood and drought applications must be developed
analysis reports. to generate the information.
Forecast of climate change impact on water
availability.
3 Access to all non-sensitive data and information This forms core system
development. An example of such
an application is available at
https://opendatanepal.com/

4 Provincial and local water resources development This forms the core of the
plans document management system.
National Water Act, policies, regulations, plans
5 Maps of current streamflow and trends, snowmelt This information caters to
reporting, snow coverage maps, glacial lakes, citizens' information needs.
water availability forecasting, water allocation and
use, water stress/scarcity map and report, drought might have a dedicated portal to
map visualisation, water quality reports and maps, generate and host the geo portal.
groundwater quantity and quality maps

6 Ecosystems atlas, access to safe drinking water These data are available in
and improved sanitation, water economy and several data repositories.
socioeconomic indicators Appropriate modalities for live
linkage to the data will need to be
developed.

7 Flood/drought forecasting and early warning DHM mostly generates these

system, GLOF early warning, community-based data.
flood early warning system System could be linked to the
DHM information source.

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3 Stocktake

A stocktake was designed to assess the current state of the WECS data collection and the
systems and capabilities relating to the system. This was done to ensure a solid
understanding of what is already in place within WECS and the key system stakeholders
organisations (data providers and data or information users). The stocktake was designed to
cover the typical high-level functional areas of the system Figure 4. The six areas capture the
system's main functions and are interdependent.

Figure 4 High-level functional areas of

The stocktake explored each high-level functional area .

WECS and system stakeholders collected information through a survey, workshopping and
reviewing past and existing activities and policies. The survey was developed to assist in
understanding the current capabilities and existing/upcoming systems relating to basin
information. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), the Department of Water
Supply and Sewerage Management (DWSSM), the Department of Agriculture (DoA), the
Department of Electricity Development (DoED), and the Water and Energy Commission
Secretariat (WECS) all returned full or partial responses.
The survey provided a picture of the state of basin information management and identified
existing systems, practices and processes associated with generating data needed for
. Information was collected on river basin management-
related data collection and management status, quality assurance and quality control
(QA/QC) process, computing infrastructure, scale, data use, and effectiveness of data
sharing between government agencies and basin information needs of various agencies.

| 15
3.1 Data collection and database system

WECS

WECS has established systems and processes relevant to .

The most mature systems disseminate general information about WECS form and function.
Firstly, WECS shares its policies and reports via its official website (https://wecs.gov.np).
Additionally, WECS maintains a physical library in the Singh Durbar, established in 1983, and
offers an online metadata search tool accessible at
http://www.wecslibrary.org/catalog/opac_css/. The physical library archives documents from
consultants as part of their assignments (which may include background data). Furthermore,
the Secretariat of WECS facilitates information dissemination by appointing an Information
Officer responsible for communicating relevant information to the media and the public.
WECS has less mature processes for the collection and curation of data. As part of its
ongoing activities, WECS collects data from secondary sources e.g. public websites, other
departments, and commissioned consultants. Some specific data, such as streamflow and
census information, are available through publicly available sources. In cases where non-
public data is required from other government departments and agencies, the process is
formalised through written letters and transferred using the inter-departmental request
system. WECS does not currently provide public data streams or products via its website or
other Government of Nepal websites.
WECS collects information for the preparation of river basin plans and hydropower
development master plans and the analysis of flood, drought, and climate. The development
of information products is primarily undertaken through consultancies, although WECS also
provides advice to the government as required. The data used include a range of secondary
sources (approximately 20 government databases and 20 non-government sources).
WECS is nearing the completion of a dedicated database system for storing and
communicating results from their recent river basin plans. Once completed, they expect to
have moderate capacity in database development. This includes 2 or 3 on the decision
support training.
While statutes do not require WECS to collect primary data, it has done so for past projects.
For example, the Kamala Basin Initiative has collected data about canal use and water levels
in the Kamala Irrigation Project. These products are redistributed under various agreements
with WECS or other collaborators.
WECS specified that they do not conduct specific QA/QC processes like those of the
originating agency. They are focused on collecting data to prepare river basin plans and
hydropower development and analyse floods, droughts, and climate change. Therefore, the
data types required are extensive, ranging from river levels to groundwater, rainfall, soils,
glacier/snow, water quality, etc. WECS is in the process of setting up a dedicated database
system to manage all this collated data.

16 | CSIRO
Other agencies

Table 4 summarises the quantitative survey responses on basin data and information
management in Nepal.
Table 4 Summarised survey results for quantitative responses

Department Department Department Department Water and

of Water of of Electricity of Hydrology Energy
Supply and Agriculture Development and Commission
Sewerage Meteorology Secretariat
Management

1. Data collection, QA/QC

Collect water Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

data? (secondary)

Trained staff Yes Yes No Yes No

for collection,
QA?

Budget Yes Yes Yes Yes No

allocated to
collection?

Staff # Male:~100 M:2 F: 4 Consultant M: 12 F: 5 Not applicable

collection
Female:0

Staff # QA/QC M:100 F:0 M:2 F: 2 Consultant M: 5 F: 3 Not applicable

Capacity (1-4, 2 2 1 3
low -> strong)

Data collection Low Low Med Low

2. Database

Capacity (1-4, 4 2 1 3 1
low -> strong)

Database High Low Not applicable High Med

management

Data server High Low Not applicable Med Med

Data QA/QC High Med Med Med Med

Governance Med Low Med Med Low

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 Department Department Department Department Water and
of Water of of Electricity of Hydrology Energy
Supply and Agriculture Development and Commission
Sewerage Meteorology Secretariat
Management

Dissemination Med Low Low Med Low

Data delivery High Med Not available Low Not available

Data standards High Med Not available Med Low

Data scope High Low Low Low Med

Capability: Med Low Not available Low Not available

development

Capability: Med Low Not available Med Not available

sensor data

Capability: Low Low Not available Low Med

spatial data

Demand for High High Low High High

services

Level of Low Low None Med Med

support

3. Data value addition

Capacity (1-4, Not available 2 1 2 1

low -> strong)

It shows that several agencies collect primary water data. Most agencies employ government
staff to collect data and have quality assurance practices. Some outsource data collection to
consultants and need the internal capacity to undertake quality assurance. A strong
foundation in trained staff is evident in most departments, signifying a robust approach to
ensuring water data collection and management quality and reliability. However, the variation
in the number of staff dedicated to these tasks highlights discrepancies in capacity that could
influence the effectiveness of data collection and analysis efforts.
The capacity to undertake quality assurance varied between low to medium-capacity
agencies. Some departments boast large teams, strongly emphasising water management,
while others rely on smaller teams or external consultants. This diversity in staffing levels may
reflect the scope of water management tasks undertaken by each department or variations in
resource availability.

18 | CSIRO
3.2 Existing related information systems
Relevant information systems exist within WECS and other departments in Nepal. These
systems are essential as either data sources, data output targets, or complementary systems
that may play a part in an overall system. Some details of known systems, including water-
related systems, GIS, or administrative systems, are outlined here.

Water Resources Information System (WRIS)

WECS developed the Water Resources Information System to collect and disseminate all
information regarding water resources from sectoral agencies (e.g., hydropower, irrigation,
hydrometeorology, water supply, and sanitation). It is not publicly hosted yet. WECS plans to
integrate the recently developed Nepal DSS and the existing WRIS to make them useful for
decision-makers and the public.

Bagmati DSS

The Bagmati DSS (BDSS) was developed during the Bagmati River Basin Integrated Master
Plan preparation during 2015 18 (JWA et al., 2018). It is a tool for monitoring and
understanding the Bagmati River system, designing and evaluating development scenarios,
investment projects, and management strategies. It can act as a platform for
communication, information exchange, and coordinated development for various sectors in
the basin. The BDSS is a customised tool to address pressing water resource issues in the
Bagmati basin.
The system has several components (IWMI and TMS, 2022): a hydrometeorological database,
GIS containing maps and discipline-specific data (e.g., economic), Model base - calibrated
and fully functional rainfall-runoff model (NAM) and river basin (MIKE Hydro basin) models
containing the irrigation and water supply schemes of the Kathmandu Valley, DSS interface
(MIKE Workbench) and web portals. A web-based Geocatalog portal allows water managers,
agency staff and the public to download data.

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Figure 5 Components of Bagmati DSS (Source: Final report. Bagmati decision support system assessment.
IWMI, April 2022)

WECS is the custodian of the BDSS and was given the administrative privilege to make
changes to the DSS. In 2021-22, WECS and IWMI assessed the reactivation and improvement
of the BDSS. They identified hardware, software, and human resources constraints and
recommended ways to reactivate the system and train WECS staff. The status of the follow-
on activity is not known.

Corporate DSS (CDSS)

The CDSS is a national framework produced during the preparation of the Bagmati River Basin
Integrated Master Plan. It contains national-level spatial data for various sector projects,
valuable for coordinating inter-sectoral project planning in basins. The CDSS is hosted by
WECS, which has all the general functionalities required for various types of river basins in
the country. It can be operationalised when a model and database of each basin are
formulated.

Nepal Irrigation Management Information System

The Nepal Irrigation Management Information System (NIMIS), published by the Department
of Water Resources and Irrigation (DWRI), integrates information about irrigation systems
across Nepal. The system aims to streamline irrigation planning, management, and
monitoring nationally, consolidating irrigation data to facilitate efficient resource allocation
and promote sustainable irrigation practices throughout the country. The system is in the
early implementation stage, and data from the Irrigation Master Plan (IMP) is used as the
initial dataset.
The DWRI assessed basin water availability as part of the IMP. This was one of the most
comprehensive assessments of basin water availability using the SWAT (Soil and Water
Assessment Tool) model (swat.tamu.edu) and water allocation using the MIKE HYDRO Basin
modelling platform (www.dhigroup.com/global/products/water-resources/mike-hydro-
basin).
20 | CSIRO
Figure 6 Annual average rainfall distribution in different basins of Nepal

The status of these hydrological models is unclear, particularly regarding their ongoing
operation and maintenance. However, they could provide a foundational data input into the
system. At the same time, the DWRI's models and efforts could use information to develop
long-term management plans that consider various other water usage in the future.
DWRI plans to collaborate with provincial and local governments to continuously enhance
and expand irrigation information within their jurisdictions, intending to eventually transfer
administrative authority to the respective provinces for further improvements. Continuous
efforts are underway to integrate information at the system level. The success of this
collaborative initiative depends on the support and involvement of various stakeholders,
including government agencies, local authorities, farmers, researchers, and development
partners.

National Geoportal

The survey department within the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperative and Poverty
Alleviation manages a web-enabled national geo portal. The portal provides basin
management-related data: Administrative Boundaries, Hazards, Land Use Data, Topographic
Data, and Social Infrastructure. At the time of review, 54 datasets were in the catalogue.
Metadata for catalogue entries adheres to the SO 19139 standard.
The Nepalese company Naxa developed the portal in 2020 with technical assistance from the
World Bank Global Facility for Reduction and Recovery. When writing, the team was unaware

| 21
of the governance arrangements, funding model, computing infrastructure, or maintenance
strategies.
These foundational datasets will be an essential context source for
System. Extensions to the national geoportal could also be envisaged. For example, one
survey respondent noted high-resolution topographic data to establish potential exposure to
flood-prone areas.

Nepal Agricultural Management Information System

Nepal Agricultural Management Information System (NAMIS) 1 provides a 7-day Agromet

Advisory Bulletin (AAB) since 2015, which includes a summary of weather, crops, livestock,
tables on weather and agrometeorological parameters, current and past week weather
information along with weather forecast (outlook), information on pests and diseases so that
farmers can make the on-farm decision to reduce the adverse impact of climate change and
to increase agriculture production for enhancing food security situation. This is a likely source
of data for .

National Information Technology Centre

The government's central data centre is the National Information Technology Centre (NITC) 2.
With around 50 staff members, the NITC maintains the government's domain name (.gov.np),
web presence (1800 websites), email server, and data centre. The data centre contains racks
with around 90 servers of varying sizes that use virtualisation technology to support multiple
applications on each server. The data centre does not seek to recoup expenses. It assists in
computerising records at governmental offices and developing and expanding the contents. It
offers a secure and dependable platform for hosting and administering government data and
applications. It is a crucial part of the government's initiatives to update its IT infrastructure,
encourage cloud computing, and enhance the provision of public services online. The NITC
host systems will form the basis of .

Nepal Decision Support System and Data Atlas

Hydropower Development Master Plans and Strategic Environmental and Social

report lists the datasets collected as part of their baseline data
assessment. Information on the physical environment was collated around topography,
geology, soils, groundwater, land use, basin network, irrigation projects and water quality.
Further information was collated for strategic environmental and social assessments and the
biological environment. Data was sought from around 20 government databases and around
20 non-government sources.

1
https://wamis.org/wamis/nepal/
2
https://nitc.gov.np/aboutus/introduction

22 | CSIRO
The Nepal Decision Support System and Atlas provide access to the outcomes of WECS's
river basin planning study. The datasets reflect a point in time. The system uses QGIS,
PostgreSQL, and Mike products (e.g., Mike Basin and Mike Hydrobasin). It would be hosted on
a machine owned and operated by the WECS.

National WASH

The National WASH (NWASH)3 contains 15 applications, including an online dashboard that
provides data on national water, sanitation, and hygiene targets. The website presents graphs
and infographics on data collection progress and survey results on a monthly time scale. It
also contains mapping products to show spatial products, including the location of water
supply projects. The website provides information about water supply projects, including
photos of the infrastructure.
The website and associated applications were custom-built by Softwel using Javascript
libraries such as OpenLayers, which link to a database. The open-source software Geoserver
hosts the spatial layers from the database. Softwel self-hosts the software (external to the
government networks and domain hosting).

3.3 Challenges and gaps

challenges and gaps related to management were
assessed using a questionnaire survey. The responses (Table 5) were discussed in a
workshop in November 2023 in Kathmandu, and feedback and clarification from WECS were
obtained. Additionally, WECS's existing information management is built on the Bagmati
Decision Support System (BDSS) and more recent river basin plans database and information
management. The technical assistance provided by the World Bank to update BDSS identified
various constraints regarding its sustainability. It is assumed that these challenges are
ongoing.
Table 5 Questions and responses related to challenges and gaps identified by WECS

Question WECS Note

response
Are there trained staff for land and water No -
data collection and QA/QC?
Is there budget allocation for land or No -
water data collection and QA/QC?
How many staff are involved in data NA -
collection?
How many staff are involved in data NA -
QA/QC?
Data management systems, e.g. use of Med Some databases are in place but
databases, documentation, and fragmented
metadata.

3
https://nwash2.softwel.com.np/

| 23
 Question WECS Note
response
Data server Med Office server or network drives for
storing data.
Data QC Med Some combination of manual and
automatic (e.g. outlier detection)
takes place.
Governance policy (and/or strategy) Low No defined data policies relating to
oversight of data and data
practices
Data dissemination policy Low Some policies need to be actively
managed.
Data delivery Platform NA NA
Data standards & procedures Low Some standard codes (e.g., units,
measurement naming) lack
consistency, and there are no data
handling and quality checking
processes.
Data scope: surface water, groundwater, Med At least half of the categories
water storages, water use, covered, or more, but with partial
meteorological, water quality, coverage.
wastewater, ecosystem, administrative
data
Current level of staff capability - System NA Not available
development and management (DBs,
metadata, etc.)
Current level of staff capability - Sensor NA Not available
data analysis and checking (e.g. time-
series checking)
Current level of staff capability - Spatial Med A few technically trained,
data and analysis dedicated staff
Demand for data and information High -
services
Level of support for database and Med -
information systems.

Data collection and database system

WECS collects data from the field occasionally and mainly relies on external agencies for
data collection. However, it has no regular data collation system or live data links to external
This poses several challenges. First, WECS depends on external
agencies for data quality and accuracy. Inconsistent or unreliable data can hinder effective
decision-making. Second, data may not be available when needed. Timely data is crucial for
informed decision-making and responding to changing conditions or quick responses to
emerging issues. While relying on external agencies provides convenience and lowers
internal costs, addressing these challenges proactively is essential.

24 | CSIRO
Modelling system

system uses MIKE SHE and MIKE 11 (hydrodynamic component) hydrological

model and MIKE HYDRO Basin River basin software. MIKE SHE, MIKE 11, and MIKE HYDRO
Basin are run as standalone software. The software is commercial and has ongoing software
licensing and maintenance costs. Budgetary allocation for this purpose is essential for the
system's ongoing operation.
The existing models use historical data and represent the baseline condition. When making
changes to the DSS model, it is essential to regularly update the model to reflect changing
conditions and test future development scenarios following the User's Manual. It would be
beneficial for professionals within the organisation to be trained in this role of model
updating.
The spatial resolution of the existing modelling system at WECS requires clarification.
Nonetheless, these models should be able to provide location-specific and higher-resolution
information to allow local basin planning and decision-making.

Service delivery system

WECS value-added information generated by

models using software like HECRAS, SWAT, and MIKE. These services are used for analysing
droughts, floods, water planning, etc., and potential publication by other interested agencies
or partners. WECS's staff are trained in several water modelling and snow-glacier runoff
modelling software. WECS does not have a well-developed externally focussed information
service delivery mechanism. Information is provided as and when needed.
Other government departments have policies for disseminating datasets and information
products such as hydro-met data and weather forecasts. In most cases, these datasets are
processed and disseminated on an ad-hoc basis by other government agencies or
consultants to build information products (reports and analysis). This can involve a significant
investment of resources, so minimising transaction costs has been a focus internationally.
For example, standards for improving data management have been established, such as the
FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) for digital assets
(https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/).
Some datasets (e.g., recent air temperature) are accessible to the public, while others, such
as historical climatology, are distributed at commercial rates. The data distribution strategy,
including availability and pricing, is determined case-by-case.

ITC System

modelling and services depend on data and information,

and a highly developed ITC system is desirable for the system's functioning. WECS uses a
Python-based workflow to manage data flow from input to information generation.

reviewed the ITC system (Tractebel Engineering GmbH, 2020). They identified challenges
| 25
related to hardware used for the modelling software and database based on the Windows
platform.
WECS currently operates in a federated information management structure where data sits in
various government agencies and is expected to be available when necessary. This de-
centralised approach can solve complex basin issues and is expected to continue. However,
it is essential to note that a federated system can create operational challenges. For
example, data heterogeneity (varying formats, semantics, and structures) can complicate
information sharing and interoperability. Obtaining data irregularly or sharing
Information System-generated information is resource-intensive and can lead to
communication bottlenecks. There needs to be policies, standards, or interoperability
agreements to navigate the challenges.

Capacity development system

WECS does not have ongoing training and institutional structure to train and retain database
and modelling capability. To ensure the sustainability of the DSS (database and modelling
systems), it is crucial to focus on institutional capacity building. A trained pool of modellers
should be retained within WECS so that the operation of the DSS is not affected by personnel
changes. Regular training activities should be conducted for future generations to operate
and update the DSS, which would help maintain its sustainability.

Institutional system

WECS has four disciplinary divisions: Water Resources, Energy, Legal and Institutional
Development and Social, Economic and Environment. Each division is managed by a joint
secretary, who reports to the WECS secretary. The Water Resources and Energy divisions
have three sections each. Senior Divisional Engineers head the sections. The organisational
chart of WECS is obtained from their website4 (Figure 7).

4
Source: http://wecs.gov.np/pages/organization-chart

26 | CSIRO
Figure 7 WECS organisational chart

WECS does not have a dedicated unit for basin data and information management. The Water
Resources Division maintains data and analyses hydropower, irrigation, and basin
development studies. It has forty-eight approved positions, seven of which are engineers.
WECS indicated that the staff have moderate data management, modelling, and value-added
information generation capacity and a lower capacity for standards, data delivery, and
governance. Although WECS has developed competency in modelling through projects like
the Kamala Basin initiative or river basin planning study of all basins, institutional capability
to maintain and update models is limited due to staff turnover, maintenance, and
computational costs. These challenges can prevent the water models from reaching their full
potential and becoming useful in decision-making.
In 2020, WECS prepared and led the release of the National Water Resources Policy 2020 and
prepared and tabled the National Water Resources Bill 2020 to repeal and replace the
existing Water Act. The under-review Bill is necessary for WECS and will
institutional capacity to maintain and regularly update the system.
A summary of (%) is provided Table 6.
Table 6 WECS's approximate current capacity

System Approximate Status

capacity (%)

Data collection and database 30 Ad-hoc, on-demand collation from

external and global sources; moderate
data coverage of various categories; data
coverage does not include groundwater;

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 System Approximate Status
capacity (%)
No formal agreement about data formats
or standards; manual data sharing
amongst agencies challenges data
processing.

Modelling 70 Well-developed based on a commercial

software suite

Service delivery 30 Information provided on-demand;

generally shared by email or data drives

ITC 50 Data workflow based on a commercial

software suite; limited customisation
option

Capacity development 30 Limited to project-based training

Institutional 30 There is moderate data management,

modelling, and value-added information
generation capacity and a lower capacity
for standards, data delivery, and
governance.

data providers and user agencies identified challenges in

collecting, managing, sharing, and analysing basin-related data and information (Table 7).

28 | CSIRO
Table 7 Challenges identified by data providers and user agencies

Category Challenges

Data collection and Collecting precipitation data in high altitude areas

database system due to physical environment and cost (e.g. snow
measurements).
Limited staff and budget.
Assessing the quality of monitoring data provided by
external consultants.
Designing questionnaires and surveys for agricultural
data collection at the field level that rely on
respondent memory or perceptions (which can easily
change depending on the mood, time, and influence
of others).
Ensuring systematic data collection. Governance
varies across agencies with opportunities to
standardise approaches (e.g. internal data
management policies).
The budget for data management is mostly
decreasing, and no relevant commercial funding
model is in place.

Modelling system Since few datasets are provided in a processed form,

standard modelling tasks are duplicated (e.g.
calculating catchment yield).

Service delivery system Developing data dissemination policies across

agencies. Making data FAIR, where FAIR data meet
principles of findability, accessibility, interoperability,
and reusability
Some datasets are disseminated publicly
(occasionally value-added data); however, most are
distributed on request, leading to high transaction
costs for data consumers.
Maintaining and distributing spatial data.

ITC System Most basin data-collecting organisations maintain

data servers or databases or both. Despite the
demand for information services, there is a low level
of support for database maintenance.

| 29
 Category Challenges

Capacity development A general lack of advanced training in data quality

system assurance and quality control, statistical data
management, and geographic information systems
(GIS).

Most agencies reported decreased budget allocation for data management over the past
three years. The number of people involved in data collection varied from 6 to greater than
100. A few agencies indicated the number of department staff, and others stated the overall
number of people involved, including staff from local government.
Database management capacity was highly variable among the agencies (every possible
response was returned from low to strong). Most agencies reported high demand for data and
information services. Several agencies reported that their agency had centralised or
synchronised systems with good metadata, services, and data exchange mechanisms. All
agencies reported that they either needed to have governance and policies around oversight
of data management or that their policies only covered some aspects of data management.
All agencies reported that spatial database management capability was low.
Most agencies reported basic or low capacity to analyse data and generate synthesised
products and reports. Examples of generated products included weather and flood forecasts
and minimum support prices for agricultural commodities. Finally, the agencies identified a
diverse set of collaborators, including international and local NGOs, global lenders, other
tiers of government and the private sector. The agencies did not identify any common
collaborators.
One agency indicated that database server management was of a high standard (storage
backups, power supply backups); however, institutional setups such as governance, policy,
and procedures were absent.

30 | CSIRO
4 Sustainability

4.1 Strategy
WECS has built a good foundation in basin modelling and is aware of its envisaged role in
providing reliable and timely basin information services. However, sustaining
Information System will be challenging, complex and costly. A strategic approach is needed
to maintain technical and non-technical aspects. The rapid evolution of database and
modelling technology (e.g., cloud computing, AI) poses significant challenges and
opportunities; parts of any system can be swiftly rendered obsolete. To mitigate this risk,
updating technology and capabilities is vital. This must be balanced with maintaining a solid
base of internal skills, data and systems. This is why strong organisational structures and
practices are so important.
The system's operational continuity relies heavily on stable funding. This will depend on
continued involvement and collaboration with data providers and users. If the data providers
like government agencies (i.e., DHM is responsible for hydrometeorology data collection and
forecasting, DOI is responsible for irrigation-related services and irrigation data collection,
etc.) and NGOs and the target users, such as government officials, researchers, and the
broader community, fail to see its value and engage with it, interest in the system may
decline. The system risks disrepair due to a lack of maintenance or updates.
Another critical factor is the quality and relevance of the system's data. Ensuring data
accuracy, regular updates, and responsiveness to environmental changes enhances the
system's credibility and relevance. Moreover, capacity-building initiatives for both users and
administrators are vital to ensure the system's effective use. With adequate skills and
knowledge, the system's sustainability can be protected.
Policy and regulatory support also significantly influence the system's long-term
sustainability. A seamless integration with national policies and regulatory frameworks
ensures the system's alignment with government priorities.
Hence, much remains to be done to transform WECS into a well-resourced basin information
service delivery agency. It needs to adopt a structured and long-term strategic approach of
continuous improvement, adaptation to changing circumstances, and efforts to maintain
stakeholder engagement.
WECS's challenges in sustaining Information System were identified through
stakeholder engagement and a stocktake survey (Chapter 3). It is recognised that WECS
would need an iterative, gradual, and long-term process. Australia's experience shows that
sustaining a national water information system can be challenging even with a large
organisation and strong funding support.
A four-year consolidation and strengthening cycle with two achievable phases in each cycle
is proposed (Figure 8).

| 31
 Phase 1: Consolidate and improve the existing staff capability, data collection
process, and service delivery system, and progress the institutional setup to sustain
.
Phase 2: Establish or maintain an improved institutional structure and implement
prioritised information services.

Consolidate and improve the Establish or maintain an

existing staff capability, data improved institutional structure
collection process, and service and implement prioritised
delivery system, and progress the information services.
institutional setup to sustain
Nepal s Basin Information
System.

Figure 8 Two phases of a continuous iterative process of developing and sustaining

Basin Information System

A two-phase continuous iterative cycle of sustaining is

proposed, recognising the rapid pace of information technology and the evolving nature of
information needs. It is assumed that after each cycle, WECS would engage with information
users and evaluate information needs.
The first cycle proposes improving the capacity to become a sustainable, fit-for-purpose
basin information service agency. The proposed targets are shown in Table 8. This will allow
WECS to work to its current strengths while building its expertise and resources to effectively
collaborate with other agencies, data providers, contractors, universities, and development
partners to develop information services tools, as identified in Section 2.3. It is estimated that
this is to sustain
Information System.

32 | CSIRO
Table 8 Target capacities at the end of the first 4-year cycle

System Approximate existing Target capacity Target capacity (%)

capacity (%) (%) Phase 1 Phase 2

Data collection and 30 70 100

database

Modelling 70 70 70

Service delivery 30 50 70

ITC 50 50 70

Capacity 30 70 100
development

Institutional 30 70 100

4.2 Potential actions

Phase 1

In the first 2-year phase, WECS can work to consolidate and improve the existing staff
capability, data collection process, and service delivery system and progress the institutional
setup to sustain the system. The system must be built on top of established software and
match existing and planned capabilities. A considerable investment has been made in the
MIKE-based software to date. While this alone is no reason to continue with that system,
there are advantages to sustaining the existing system, including:
There are already trained system users which can be leveraged to expand internal
capacity.
The software platform has capabilities that far exceed its current use and cover many
functional requirements identified in Section 2.
The following actions could be considered in the Phase to achieve the targets Table 8.

Action 1: Establish a technical group and steering committees.

Based on the stocktake
developing its water information system, it is recommended that WECS establish
Basin Information System technical group. The group should include the system architect,
data manager, and modelling specialists. The system architect will provide the vision of
technology evolution and possibly lead technical group.
The data manager will plan and implement data collation control data quality and, more
importantly, deliver the information service. The modelling specialists will be responsible for
updating and improving existing models. The group will liaise with other government agencies
and lead the formation of the system unit at WECS in Phase 2.
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During stocktaking, it was identified that WECS has strengthened its institutional capability by
hiring and retaining qualified staff, improving capacity building and professional development
programs, offering appropriate salaries and incentives, mainstreaming gender and providing
effective services. These are steps in the right direction and should continue. It is recognised
that the government agencies' roles can change over time to accommodate changing
demand, and the cross-disciplinary nature of basin information requires inputs from various
government agencies. Therefore, it is proposed that
Steering Committee be established. The Committee can give the system visibility and stability
to the technical group members at WECS. It can oversee the data sharing policy
implementation, transfer protocols to and from water data holders, liaise with other
ministries on water exchange, and plan to include modelled data.

Action 2: Establish detailed data-sharing agreements.

WECS obtains necessary data from various government, global and NGO databases.
However, there needs to be a clear data-sharing policy. It will be important to establish data-
sharing agreements with different basin data holders with specifications on the exact
parameters to be shared, relevant metadata and timeliness, and regular sharing of
information on how data is collected, shared, and published. The governance underpinned by
written agreements sets out the respective roles and responsibilities and the commitment to
assist one another. A useful reference to this process is in the data-sharing legislation for the
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Water Regulations 2008).
Improving the spatial coverage of basin data is crucial for a comprehensive understanding.
This includes obtaining glacier and groundwater monitoring to capture a broader range of
environmental data. Some of these data are collected by NGOs (e.g. ICIMOD provides a
cryosphere dataset). should include a system to access
these regularly. Digital Elevation Models and soil are all data that are essential and related to
basin planning.
Automating data sharing between agencies can lower the need for manual processing,
leading to more efficient collaboration and decision-making. Public awareness campaigns
are essential to emphasise the significance of monitoring and addressing issues like
vandalism, fostering community engagement and support for environmental conservation
efforts. By implementing these measures, it will be possible to enhance environmental
monitoring practices and better protect our natural resources for future generations.
Data exchange and standards will be crucial for data exchange between agencies monitoring
and storing data. WECS must ensure adequate systems are set up to facilitate this exchange.
Automating this process with standards and APIs/Web Services will allow the system to scale
to address future needs.

Action 3: Update and upgrade MIKE-based software license and capabilities.

WECS has a PostgreSQL (https://www.postgresql.org) database and a MIKE modelling-based
information system. A reasonable investment has been made in the system and training.
Having the support of a commercial vendor is of great assistance in ongoing training,
maintenance, and upgrades. WECS could upgrade and maintain the licences for the MIKE
platform. technical group might need additional training in
34 | CSIRO
upgrading software operations. The WECS's operational budget planning should include
MIKE's ongoing costs.

Action 4: Update existing models.

Models are critical to generating many of the information services. WECS uses the MIKE suite
of models for various purposes. However, there is often the need to customise and/or link
together processes or systems, generally requiring the writing of custom scripts or processing
code. Some software will support this directly through in-built custom scripting languages.
Alternatively, linking pieces of software to appropriate languages (e.g. Python, R) may be
required.
The models need to be continuously updated with the most recent input data. The availability
of quality model input data can pose a challenge. Recent developments in globally available
remotely sensed data will supplement locally collected data and provide valuable input for
water modelling. It is recommended that models be chosen and used to access remotely
sensed data as much as possible. It is strongly recommended to conduct regular training
programs in modelling, specific models, and IWRM for WECS staff. These can be provided
through partnerships with universities or online training platforms like the Australian Water
School.

Action 5: Strengthen and maintain the information services delivery system.

service delivery is critical for potential users to appreciate
the system's importance. Currently, WECS provides information when another agency
requests data. A system of continuous information generation and publication of data and
reports is in the pipeline based on the DSS platform, which integrates a database, models,
post-processing tools, scripts for advanced-level processing, and output generation. The
information service system frontend is code-based (in Python).

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Figure 9 Existing WECS DSS framework (Source: Technical Note 9, DSS Framework, River Basin Planning
Study, WECS, 2024)

The system's information is limited to the software and platform's functionalities. The output
interface is not currently publicly available.
It is suggested that the information needs of existing and upcoming water-related projects,
government strategies, and policies be identified. Then, the information serviced by the
existing DSS framework will be evaluated. Workshops could be organised to understand how
people would use water data information services and their expectations the how, what,
and when, benefits from each information service, consideration of complexity, the effort
required, and data availability. Communication material should be developed to provide good
visibility of services.

Phase 2

Action 6: Improve infrastructure and data governance.

No ITC infrastructure improvement is proposed in Phase 1. In Phase 2, WECS could
undertake an in-depth analysis of computing needs. Infrastructure as A Service (IaaS) (e.g.,
provided through a whole government cloud) might provide a flexible way to deploy and run
virtual machines and required software services without investing heavily in local ITC
infrastructure and maintenance. Its flexibility, while coming at a cost, can allow easy testing
of systems before purchasing hardware and incurring ongoing maintenance costs. The
National Information Technology Centre (NITC) provides a likely option for infrastructure
support. This will allow WECS to focus on the core system components while allowing the
NITC to manage infrastructure (power supply, backups, IT support, etc.).
Data governance covers the range of policies and processes relating to the ongoing
management of data and processes for data quality. These policies will be influenced by
national-level data policies, such as those relating to data licencing, data access
(public/private access), data sharing, and mandatory reporting processes (such as

36 | CSIRO
international obligations, inter-basin data sharing, etc.). A cross-agency action plan is needed
for data integration and standardisation (Figure 10).

Figure 10 Institutional arrangements around

The management of the NWASH provides an example. It involves local governments updating
data, but incentives are needed for their active participation. Considerations include linking
budget allocations to policy adherence, supporting data input mechanisms for drinking water
quality, and addressing the capacity constraints of local governments through collaboration
with development partners. The initiative also aims to integrate governance data, such as
identifying focal persons and their training needs, to enhance the system's effectiveness.
The three cross-agency activities (NITC, data integration and standardisation, and
communication and information dissemination and promotion) provide the means for the
agencies to collaborate on activities that will benefit sharing and promoting water data at a
national level while advancing all the agency's data practices.
The data integration and standardisation activity may take different forms, but a starting point
is a working group with representatives from each agency to provide representation in the
following areas:
- Integration of data from third-party sources, e.g., integration of prioritised Earth
Observations (EO) data or climate change scenario data. These data are likely of value
for each of the agencies, and a cross-agency approach allows the sharing of
technology, know-how, and experiences in integrating and using such data.
- Web services and standards for publishing and sharing cross-agency data. If the
collaborating agencies are all involved in the development and testing of this
technology, then they are more likely to be able to adopt and use these approaches.
Such a working group would allow the agencies to explore areas of cross-over and
opportunities for collaboration on specific activities. Given each agency's resource
constraints, a collaborative approach between agencies is a way to get better access to skills

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and development capabilities in each agency. This group would be able to form groups to
focus on targeted technology development, such as developing standards to exchange river
monitoring data.

Action 7: Expand water information services.

Phase 1 Action 5 would establish an information services delivery system and identify
information needs not serviced through the existing system, e.g., Basin development
potential, Data download portal, Water quality status, etc. In Phase 2, various missing
constituent modules could be developed. The additional modules must be prioritised based
on the needs identified from the user assessments.

Action 8: Establish a data licensing framework.

Data licensing is becoming increasingly important for agencies collecting, managing, and
publishing data. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has adopted the Creative Commons
by Attribution licence to establish precise definitions of third-party use of its data. This
licence also ensures that organisations or individuals that supply information are correctly
attributed when their information is used. Establishing a data licensing framework is not
trivial and needs to align with government policy.

Action 9: Conduct regular training and development.

Training will be essential to ensure adequate operating and long-term system sustainability.
As identified in Section 3, there needs to be more organisational skills to operate the system.
Additionally, new skills must be fostered as matures and
new systems are made available. The skill base of the WECS organisation is one of the most
critical assets for to be successful. A plan for developing
WECS capability and expanding capacity will need to be developed as part of
Information System. The exact roles and skills required depend on the specifics, but the
following skills are likely to be required:
System architecture: responsible for the overall design and operation of
Information System.
Hydrological modelling: a range of modelling skills that depends on the specific
models used in .
Data management: data management, quality assurance, etc.
Geographical Information Systems: spatial databases and GIS operations.
Programming: range of programming skills, including extension of applications to
writing any required analysis code.
Web development/support: Web developers will be required if web applications need
development and/or extension.

Action 10: Strengthen partnerships with research organisations and development partners.
National and international research partnerships are critical to building a robust and
scientifically defensible system and delivering the innovation required to sustain information

38 | CSIRO
services and tools. In Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology (custodian of the national water
information system) maintained and funded a ten-year (2008 2017) research and
development alliance with the national science agency (CSIRO), which proved to be critical
for the success of the system's development.
WECS has a recognised profile and is the focal point for research and pilot activities of
UNESCAP, ICID, WCD, etc. It is a member of the World Energy Council (WEC). It acts as a
secretariat of the WEC-Nepal National Committee, International Commissions on Large
Dams (ICOLD) and a secretariat of the ICOLD Nepal National Committee. It has received
external funding from The World Bank, The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), WWF Nepal, and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
(ICIMOD) in the past. WECS must continually communicate the importance of investing in
sustaining .

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5 Looking forward

Sustaining Nepal Basin Information System demands maintaining existing infrastructure

and processes, identifying shortcomings and future planning, supporting relevant legislation,
understanding stakeholder needs (from government agencies to end-users), data quality, and
technological options. This report is a stocktake of what has been done regarding basin data
and establishment of water-related DSS, and what needs to be done to sustain and build on
the progress so far.
The report proposes a four-year, two-phased cycle for sustaining
System, including existing systems and capabilities. It is ambitious but feasible, with discrete
and practical recommendations that can be sized in response to the level of investment. The
report includes ten actions in the first cycle of system maintenance. WECS will have critical
governance, data management processes, and a core team of upskilled staff. While the
primary audience for Phase 1 is government agencies and development partners involved in
providing information, the system will give modest services to the public to build trust and
confidence in the information being provided.
In Phase 2, WECS will have the required institutional capability to deliver information services
to other government agencies with practical and workable data sharing and licensing
arrangements in place, have strengthened partnerships with research organisations and
development partners to drive its evolution, and have secure funding for expanding and
sustaining the system. At the end of the first four-year maintenance cycle, an audit of the
performance of should be undertaken. Some
reorientations may be required to meet new and emerging opportunities and challenges.
Requests for new and innovative services will emerge as basin development gains pace and
grows its capabilities and capacity to deliver sophisticated IWRM.

40 | CSIRO
 The Australian experience

A.1 Overview
Australia faces a big problem with water security. In the past, getting information about how
much water was available across the country was hard. So, the government created a new
law called the Water Act 2007. This law gave the Bureau of Meteorology the job of collecting
and sharing information about water resources across Australia. The Bureau developed the
Australian Water Resource Information System (AWRIS) as part of its Water Information
Program. The Bureau worked with universities, consultants, and companies to create the
AWRIS, which is an information service that helps people get important information about
water resources in Australia.
The "Improving Water Information" program was given AUD$450 million for 10 years, during
which the Bureau hired 130 staff, bought IT equipment, created offices, and built
relationships with stakeholders. As part of this program, the Bureau also launched the
"Modernisation and Extension of Hydrologic Monitoring Systems Program," an AUD$80
million initiative to help water information collectors upgrade their monitoring systems.

A.2 Lessons learned

Building the Australian WIS and information products involved many substantial challenges
technical, scientific, management, resourcing, and data management capabilities. There are
many salient lessons that the Bureau has shared with us, including:
Considerable investment from the Australian Government: the Improving Water
Information Program was designed to enhance the quality of WISs in Australia. There was a
considerable investment from the Australian Government to cover expenses such as staffing,
accommodation, and information technology systems. There was also the allocation of funds
to assist data providers in strengthening water monitoring arrangements through the
Modernisation and Extension to Hydrologic Monitoring Systems Program (Modernisation &
Extension Program).
Applied research and support from partner agencies such as the CSIRO: the technical
and scientific challenges in building capability in data management and producing a suite of
water information products and services were substantial.
Legislated authority to collect, compile, and make accessible water information: The
Water Act 2007 and associated regulations gave the Bureau the responsibility and
authority to collect and compile water information and make it accessible to the
Australian public. Providers sometimes must send data to the Bureau at an impost with very
little benefit to their organisation.
Support from various key stakeholders, champions, and individuals:
was driven by a visionary leader13, who understood the problems and was able to convey the

| 41
needs to decision-makers. Political support for such a large and important project that
reached across government portfolios and agencies was needed.
A national organisation with a reputation as a trusted source of information: The Bureau's
role was to receive and make data available so stakeholders could make informed decisions.
Obtaining data from a large number of providers was challenging. The Bureau was
strategically chosen because it already had a national presence with offices nationwide and a
good reputation as a trusted and reliable scientific organisation.
Funding for providers in data collection, generation, and transfer: The Bureau provided
funding to provider organisations as part of a modernisation and extension program. This
funding helped improve data quality, telemetry, and transfer mechanisms and produced
goodwill with providers who could benefit from the program.
Establishment of stakeholder groups: The Bureau established stakeholder groups,
including executives from lead agencies in each state and territory, technical experts from
software vendors, standards committees, subject matter experts, and reference groups.
These groups contributed to the program's success and provided an inclusive culture with
stakeholder buy-in and ownership.
Funds provided for communication about the program: The Bureau had a communication
team and engaged stakeholders through across-country presentations and roadshows. It was
important to keep people informed and to manage the change. As with all change, the
opposition needed to be respected and addressed.
Strategy to achieve early success: Data acquisition from providers was time-consuming.
The Bureau concentrated on providers with the most data and value to national products and
services. This strategy helped with achieving some early outcomes.
Planning for smaller regular releases of products and services to satisfy stakeholders
was required: There were political time pressures to produce results before the WIS was
finished. At times, the developers had to change the scope to deliver products. Building
products without the supporting WIS meant more manual work, and key developers were
sidetracked from building the WIS. A clear purpose and objective were important as there
were many pressures to change priorities and scope.
Adoption of a standard data transfer format was needed: the WDTF assisted with
interoperability, data ingestion, and data quality. Data were collected at various quality levels
with providers using different measurement techniques and methodologies at different
maturity levels. The Bureau did not enforce data measurement and collection standards on
providers but supported the industry in adopting standards.
Flood warning systems kept separate from the WIS: The flood systems were already
operational, and combining them presented risks. The architecture for the WIS was built to
hold long-term historical and near real-time data with a delay of at least one to two days
before publication. This only meets some stakeholder needs and can cause confusion with
data held and published from separate systems. The Bureau is looking at ways to address
these issues.

42 | CSIRO
The Bureau used commercial off-the-shelf time-series data management software: A
number of existing systems already had built-in functionality to support data ingestion
products and services. The commercial systems still needed to be tailored to meet specific
requirements. Considerable resources and time were put into planning, gathering
requirements, user testing and ongoing maintenance to support the WIS.
Domain expert teams were established: The Bureau set up several different teams,
including data management, domain experts, system administrators, software developers
and information architects. The Bureau's WIS is large and requires many different teams to
support program functions. Key staff remained throughout the project to provide input and
direction. A high level of cooperation, agreement and collaboration were required across
many teams.
Funding for consultants and IT support: The Bureau paid for consultants and IT support and
entered into a maintenance contract with the commercial time-series data management
system vendor. This support played a pivotal role in achieving the required outcomes.
Ongoing funding allowed the project to continue: There were costs during the development
life cycle and ongoing operation and maintenance costs.
Strategies have evolved to be more customer-focused with user-centred design:
products and services are under review, taking into account customer needs and the value of
these products to their industry or business.

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 Glossary

Table 9 Types of planning initiatives

Planning type Definition Examples

Strategic Addresses long-term goals, Strategic plans for energy generation,

objectives, and overall irrigation supply, maintaining food
direction. Typically, a 5-30- security
year planning horizon.

Tactical Specific actions and tasks Drought monitoring, flood hazard

focused on achieving mapping
strategic goals. Typically, 1-5
year projects.

Operational Addresses ongoing and Flood early warnings, weather

imminent decision-making. forecasts, infrastructure maintenance
schedules

Table 10 Description of different dataset types

Dataset types Description

Reference data These reference datasets, such as river basin boundaries, river
drainage lines, geological features and topography, change
infrequently.

Sensor data Sensor datasets provide a continuous feed of observations. E.g.,

telemetered climate, hydrological measurements

Geospatial data Many datasets have raster or vector geospatial coordinates, e.g.
landcover, irrigation command areas, administrative layers, and
rainfall station metadata.

Regulatory and Governments and industries collect some datasets for

compliance data administrative purposes (e.g., the Census) and others for
compliance information (e.g., hydropower releases).

Reports and Project reports and academic articles, such as journal papers, can
academic data contain quantitative or qualitative data. For example, ecological

44 | CSIRO
 water requirements, or observed trends in groundwater bores, or
population projections.

Survey data from Household survey data is often collected as part of project planning
stakeholder or monitoring and evaluation. Similarly, the legislative process
processes involves formal stakeholder engagement and community feedback.

Crowdsourced Although rare in Nepal, engaged community members have

data contributed information through crowdsourcing apps and social
media, including species presence and flood damage assessments.

Table 11 Distribution of dataset

Distribution process Sources

Public datasets Often collected off the web. Usually Global, GoN, ICIMOD
free.

Non-public Collated from the relevant GoN

datasets department through the issuance of a
letter. Datasets are sometimes on
commercial terms and occasionally
free.

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 References

International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Total Management Services Pvt. Ltd
(TMS) (2022) Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project Integrated Water Resources
Management. Final Bagmati Decision Support System Assessment Report, report to Water
and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Nepal, IWMI and TMS.
IWMI (2018) Final report. Bagmati decision support system assessment. Report prepared by
the International Water Management Institute for Water and Energy Commission Secretariat
(WECS), Nepal.
Japan Water Agency (JWA), Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd. (YEC) and Total Management Services
Pvt. Ltd. (TMS) (2018) Final report of Consulting Services for Conception and Installation of
Bagmati River Basin Decision Support System, Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System,
Water Quality Monitoring System and Preparation of Bagmati River Basin Integrated Master
Plan, report to Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Nepal, JWA, YEC, TMS.
Lahmeyer International GmbH (2019) Preparation of River Basin Plans and Hydropower
Development Master Plans and Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment, report to
Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Nepal.
Lahmeyer International GmbH (2019) Hydrological modelling and water availability
assessment SWAT and MIKE Hydro Basin, Irrigation master plan preparation through
integrated river basin planning Annex D, report to Water and Energy Commission Secretariat
(WECS), Nepal.
Tractebel Engineering GmbH (2020) Technical Note 9, DSS Framework (Updated), Preparation
of River Basin Plans and Hydropower Development Master Plans and Strategic
Environmental and Social Assessment, report to Water and Energy Commission Secretariat
(WECS), Nepal.
Tractebel Engineering GmbH (Germany) (2019) Technical Note 2, Baseline Data Report,
Preparation of River Basin Plans and Hydropower Development Master Plans and Strategic
Environmental and Social Assessment, report to Water and Energy Commission Secretariat
(WECS), Nepal.
Vertessy RA (2017) Good practice guidelines for water data management policy: World Water
Data Initiative, report to Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, VIC viewed 20 June
2024 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2240327749

46 | CSIRO
 Agency URLs

AGENCY URL
Department of Electricity Development (DoED) http://www.doed.gov.np
Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) https://dhm.gov.np
Department of Water Resources and Irrigation (DWRI) https://dwri.gov.np
Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management (DWSSM) https://dwssm.gov.np
Groundwater Resources Development Board (GWRDB) https://gwrdb.gov.np
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development https://moald.gov.np
Ministry of Forests and Environment (MOFE) https://mofe.gov.np
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority https://bipad.gov.np
National Information Technology Centre https://nitc.gov.np
Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) https://wecs.gov.np

| 47
 Existing related information systems
URLs

DATA SOURCE/PRODUCT URL

Water Resources Information System (WRIS)
Bagmati DSS (BDSS)
Nepal Irrigation Management Information System (NIMIS)
National geoportal
Nepal Agricultural Management Information System (NAMIS) https://wamis.org/wamis/nepal/
Nepal Decision Support System and Data Atlas
National WASH (NWASH) https://nwash2.softwel.com.np/

48 | CSIRO
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Contact us
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Environment
Shahriar Wahid
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[email protected]
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50 | CSIRO