National Water Management Plan Development Strategy.

This Development Strategy sets out a framework for action within which the National Water Management Plan (NWMP) is to be formulated. It outlines the steps that Government intends to take to ensure development of effective institutions and legal and regulatory measures and to enable efficient and equitable management of the water sector as a whole. It further sets out the main aims and focus of activities within each sub-sector, such that these may proceed in a coordinated manner consistent with achieving Policy objectives. The Plan is also to be developed in line with the National Water Policy (NWPo). The Strategy outlines general policy objectives and development challenges and including, among other things, devolved and decentralised water management, environmental challenges and promotion of private sector participation. In addition, it sets out main aims, situation assessment and focus on activities for creation of an enabling environment, institutional development, main river development, water for towns and rural areas and major cities, disaster management, agriculture and water management and water for the natural environment and aquatic resources.
The main aims for developing water sector institutions are determined by the NWPo and the changes envisaged to the institutional framework are intended to bring about: The progressive withdrawal of central Government agencies from activities that can be accomplished by local institutions and the private sector with emphasis on stakeholder participation; To the extent feasible and warranted, contracting out of central Government agency functions; Activities at Zila level and below being carried out by a mix of LGIs, community-based organisations (CBO) and the private sector; The municipalities progressively taking over full responsibility for providing their own water-related services, supported by the private sector. An outline of the future institutional framework is given.
The enabling environment comprises focus on legislation, participatory planning and management, awareness, (planning) zones, guidelines and procedures, participation of women, private sector participation, and financial matters.
The main aims for the main river systems are to ensure that they are comprehensively developed and managed for multipurpose use through a variety of measures, including a system of barrages, and other structural and non-structural measures. The Government also intends to work towards international river basin planning to realise the full potential benefits of these rivers. Interregional potential developments shall be identified and a clear long-term risk management plan developed. Furthermore, existing plans shall be reviewed and river management and conservation measures (concerning among other things, erosion control, navigation and hydropower) be developed.
In the towns (excluding the major cities) and rural areas, the main aims are, to the extent feasible and affordable, to satisfy increasing demands for safe drinking water and sanitation, and within the towns to provide adequate flood protection and stormwater drainage. To achieve this, the principal objectives will be to provide a safe and reliable supply of potable water and sanitation services to all the inhabitants in the towns and rural areas, along with effective facilities for wastewater disposal to safeguard public health and protect the environment. For the major cities the focus is water supply, sanitation, flood protection and stormwater drainage.
Disaster management focuses on protection from extreme weather events, flood proofing, riverbank maintenance and erosion control, and drought management. The main aim of agriculture and water is expressed in the overall agricultural policy objective to expand and diversify agricultural production and to maintain food security, especially with regard to sustaining near self-sufficiency in rice. The main focus of activities is on expansion and support to minor irrigation development, public irrigation development and necessary waterworks and schemes, again river maintenance and flood control and drainage.
Finally, water management for the natural environment and aquatic resources shall have as its main objectives - to ensure provision of clean water for multipurpose uses; to restore and maintain fish habitats; to ensure provision of water for sustainable use, and preservation of key features of wetlands; and, to protect the aquatic environment in the future, especially by institutionalisation of EIA and environmental management procedures. Forestry is also an important element of the natural environment, and is an effective means of preventing degradation of upland watersheds. The Government is committed to massive afforestation, including development of the Coastal Green Belt. The main focus is on water pollution, water management for ecologically-sensitive areas, water for fisheries, enabling environment and institutional reform.