The government has come up with much awaited ‘National Water Plan’ (NWP) for sustainable development of water resources of the country.

The NWP, aimed at raising the standard of living of the people through phase-wise and systematic development of water resources, was made public amidst a function in the capital Wednesday.

The NWP includes a 5-year short-term, 15-year mid-term and 5-year long-term objectives. Ten strategies have been stipulated to meet these objectives.

Sixty-three important activities have been identified to achieve and maintain strategic goals.

The NWP, to be implemented by 2027 to generate 4,000 MW electricity, is estimated to cost Rs 1,200 billion. The government aims to generate money from its sources and also donors to implement the ambitious NWP.

By 2007, the government wants to take the hydropower generating capacity to 700 MW in order to meet domestic need.

By 2017, 2,100 MW hydropower electricity generation is planned and by 2027, 4,000 MW electricity will be generated.

According to officials at the Water and Energy Commission secretariat, proposed action programmes such as developing cost-effective micro, small and medium hydropower projects, enhancing rural electrification, improving power system planning, encouraging private investment in hydropower development and electric power distribution and power sector reforms are scheduled to be carried out in between.

The NWP also aims to provide better irrigation to help boost agriculture, access to electricity to all, bring about social parity and help meet the poverty alleviation goals of the country.

In terms of investment, the share of hydropower is highest (42 percent) followed by irrigation (22 percent), drinking water and sanitation (19 percent), rural electrification (seven percent) and others (less than five percent).

The NWP also aims to develop an effective mechanism to review the existing agreement with India on use of water and electricity, inter alias.