National Water Plan, Nepal
Nepal's 2005 national water plan, retained as a historical policy and storage-planning reference.
- Page status
- Verified core
- Updated
- 2026-04-14
- Last reviewed
- 2026-07-19
- Review due
- 2027-07-19
Summary
Older but widely cited national planning document for Nepal's water resources. Provides the foundational estimates of Nepal's contribution to the Ganges system and total annual runoff.
Key Data Points
- Nepal's total average annual runoff: ~225 BCM
- Nepal-origin rivers contribute ~40% of Ganges mean annual flow
- Nepal-origin rivers contribute ~70% of Ganges dry-season flow at Farakka
- Per-unit-area freshwater output among the highest on earth
Limitations
- Historical estimates: The 40%/70% Ganges contribution figures and 225 BCM runoff estimate predate recent climate shifts and may not reflect current hydrology.
- 2005 cutoff: Does not account for post-2005 basin development, irrigation expansion, or transboundary treaty changes.
- Strategic vs precise: The directional conclusion (Nepal is a major Ganges contributor) is robust; the exact percentages should be treated as indicative.
- Single planning document: Represents one national planning frame; other studies may use different baselines or boundaries.
Relevance to Project
Source for the Nepal's Contribution to the Ganges numbers used across the evidence base. . The 40%/70% figures are central to Hydro-Geopolitics and India — Energy Relationship with Nepal.