| Year |
Name |
Key Features/Areas directly or indirectly related to water environment |
Source |
| English (AD) |
Nepali (BS) |
| 1955 |
2012 |
Essential Commodity Protection Act 1955 (2012 BS) |
Deems drinking water an essential commodity and strictly protects drinking water. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Prohibits any unauthorized use or misuse, stealing, damaging etc. of drinking water. |
| 1963 |
2020 |
Muluki Ain 1963 (2020 BS) |
Sets out the order of priority of use of water for irrigation |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Regulates traditional farmer managed irrigation systems |
| 1982 |
2039 |
Soil and Watershed Conservation Act, 2039(1982) |
Defines "Soil and Watershed Conservation" as acts to prevent or save any area from being destroyed from natural calamities such as flood, landslide and soil-erosion and keep the volume and flow of water in a normal condition or keep on maintaining cleanliness by preventing the flow of water from being muddy. |
Original text |
| The Act permit to carry out by a conservation officer to maintain the soil fertility and the cleanliness of water and environment in a balanced manner and carry out such other soil and watershed conservation related acts as prescribed by Government of Nepal. |
| Classification of lands within conserved watershed area |
| Farming to be done by following land use system |
| Prohibit acts of throwing away solid wastes or similar other detritus contaminating the environment or build a site for collecting or keeping such solid wastes or
detritus. |
| Powers to shift industry, business and settlement of habitation within a conserved watershed area or to acquire the land where such industry, business and settlement of action is situated |
| 1987 |
2044 |
Solid Waste (Management and Resource Mobilization) Center Act 1987 (2044 BS) |
Establishes the Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilization Center as the responsible authority for the management of solid waste. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Deals with the pollution of water by solid waste. |
| 1989 |
2046 |
Solid Waste (Management and Resource Mobilization) Regulation 1989 (2046 BS) |
Deals with the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Deals with the provision of public toilets and bath houses. |
| 1989 |
2046 |
Nepal Water Supply Corporation Act 1989 (2046 BS) |
Establishes the Nepal Water Supply Corporation as the perpetual, autonomous government controlled corporation responsible for the supply of drinking water. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Prohibits certain acts and provides penalties/punishment for violation. |
| 1990 |
2047 |
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 (2047 BS) |
Guarantees the right to life and property. |
Water Aid, Nepal 2005 |
| Provides for the acquisition of property under certain circumstances and for compensation. |
| 1992 |
2049 |
Water Resource Act 1992 (2049 BS) |
The umbrella Act governing water resource management. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Declares the order of priority of water use. |
| Vests ownership of water in the State. |
| Provides for the formation of water user associations and establishes a system of licensing. |
| Prohibits water pollution. |
| 1992 |
2049 |
Electricity Act 1992 (2049 BS) |
Governs the use of water for hydropower production. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Establishes a system of licensing |
| 1992 |
2049 |
Industrial Enterprises Act 1992 (2049 BS) |
Requires permission for the extension and diversification of environmentally sensitive industries. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Provides financial incentives for industrial enterprises that minimize harmful effects on the environment. |
| 1993 |
2049 |
Forest Act, 2049 (1993) |
The trees cannot be felled in such a way that it may cause significant adverse effect in the environment or damage or loss publicly or soil erosion in the watershed area. |
Original text |
| Government of Nepal may impose restriction on collection, cutting, consumption, transportation sale, distribution or foreign export of the prescribed forest products for the protection of bio-diversity and environment upon publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette |
| 1993 |
2050 |
Water Resource Regulation 1993 (2050 BS) |
The umbrella Regulation governing water resource management. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Sets out the procedure to register a Water User Association and to obtain a license. |
| Sets out the rights and obligations of Water User Associations and license holders. |
| Establishes the District Water Resource Committee. |
| 1997 |
2053 |
Environment Protection Act 1996 (2053 BS) |
Defines "Pollution" as the activities that significantly degrade, damage the environment or harm on the beneficial or useful purpose of the environment, by changing the environment, directly or indirectly. |
Original text |
| To carry out Initial Environmental Examination or Environmental Impact Assessment |
| Prohibition on Implementation of Proposal Without Approval |
| To submit Proposal for Approval |
| Prevention and Control of Pollution (Nobody shall create pollution in such a manner as to cause significant adverse impacts on the environment or likely to be hazardous to public life and people's health) |
| Designate Environmental Inspectors to inspect as to whether or not the acts of mitigation, avoidance or control of pollution have been carried out in accordance with this Act or the Rules framed under this Act. |
| Protection of National Heritage |
| Declare Environment Protection Area |
| Establishment of a laboratory to help in the activities related to environment protection and pollution control. |
| To allow collection of samples to study, examine or analyze the pollution, sound, heat and wastes to be or likely to be generated from any industry, factory, machine, vehicle etc. |
| Establishment and operation of environment protection fund |
| Power to constitute environment protection council |
| Punishments ( e.g., cash penalty up to one hundred thousand Nepalese Rupees) |
| 1997 |
2054 |
Environment Protection Regulation 1997 (2054 BS) |
Lists the water related projects required to conduct an EIA or IEE. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Deals with the control of water pollution and pollution control certificate |
| 1998 |
2055 |
Drinking Water Regulation 1998 (2055 BS) |
Regulates the use of drinking water. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Provides for the formation of Drinking Water User Associations and sets out the procedure for registration. |
| Deals with licensing of use drinking water. |
| Deals with the control of water pollution and maintenance of quality standards for drinking water. |
| Sets out the conditions of service utilization by consumers. |
| 1999 |
2055 |
Local Self Governance Act 1999 (2055 BS) |
Establishes a decentralized governance structure |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Sets out the powers, functions and duties of the VDC, Municipality and DDC in relation to water and sanitation. |
| 1999 |
2056 |
Local Self Governance Regulation 1999 (2056 BS) |
Sets out the powers, functions and duties of VDC, Municipality and DDC in relation to water and sanitation. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| Establishes the procedure for the formulation of water related plan and project implementation |
| 2000 |
2056 |
Irrigation Regulation 2000 (2056 BS) |
Deals with Irrigation Water User Associations and the transfer of projects to Irrigation Water User Associations. |
Original text |
| The environmental effect evaluation or preliminary environment examination shall be conducted as per necessary under the prevailing law through public hearing in connection with the negative impact on the environment from the irrigation project. |
| In the course of using water for irrigation from any river/rivulet only the remaining water shall be utilized for irrigation purpose upon leaving minimum water in the same river/rivulet after determining so that it will not have negatively effects on the local biodiversity. |
| Monitoring, study and research work in the water quality shall be conducted and water in irrigation shall be conserved effectively without negative impact in the environment. |
| Available ground water resources shall, be developed and utilized as like the surface water reservoirs, and arrangements shall be made for conservation, promotion and control in quality. |
| 2002 |
2058 |
Water Resources Strategy Nepal |
Goal : Living conditions of Nepali people are significantly improved in a sustainable manner. |
WECS, 2002 |
| Drinking water is the basic minimum need of all human beings |
| Entact and Enforce Standards and Regulatory Mechanisms for Water Quality and Effluent Discharge. |
| Appropriate sanitation services in rural and urban areas will be provided through community awareness programmes |
| Ensure Compliance with Enviromental Regulations |
| Implement and Enforce Equitable Mechanisms for Cost-Sharing |
Increase the access of the population to drinking water through rainwater harvesting programmes, community-based water supply and sanitation sector projects, Rural water supply projects/water resource management programmes, A small town water
supply and sanitation programme, a water quality improvement programme etc |
| 2003 |
2059 |
National Wetland Policy 2003 |
Defines Wetlands as perennial water bodies that originate from underground sources of water or rains. It means swampy areas with flowing or stagnant fresh or salt water that are natural or man-made, or permanent or temporary. Wetlands also mean marshy lands, riverine floodplains, lakes, ponds, water storage areas and agricultural lands. |
Original text |
| Goals are 1) to conserve and manage wetlands resources wisely and in a sustainable way with local people s participation and 2) to put the conservation and management aspects of wetlands conservation within the framework of broader environmental management. |
| Regulate the extraction of underground water and prevent water pollution. |
| Make provisions for environmental impact assessment according to prevalent laws prior to approving development programs and activities around wetlands. |
| Ensure environmental protection by regularly monitoring development programs and activities around wetlands |
| 2004 |
2060 |
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation National Policy |
Recognizes that all people have a right to access to basic water supply and sanitation services and that these services are necessary for socio economic development and to combat waterborne diseases. |
Water Aid Nepal, 2005 |
| 2005 |
2062 |
National Water Plan-Nepal |
The National Water Plan (NWP) has been prepared to operationalize the Water Resources Strategy (WRS) of Nepal , approved by the HMGN in January 2002. |
WECS, 2005 |
| The major doctrines of the NWP are integration, coordination, decentralization, popular participation and implementation of water-related programmes within the framework of good governance, equitable distribution and sustainable development. |
| The NWP includes subsector-wise action programmes in water induced disasters, environmental action plan on management of watershed and aquatic ecosystem, water supply, sanitation and hygiene, irrigation for agriculture, hydropower development, industries, tourism, fisheries, and navigational uses, water-related information systems (Decision Support System for River Basin Planning and Management), legal frameworks, and institutional mechanisms |
| Environment Management Plan, a strategic document for the implementation of environmental protection measures (including downstream water pollution and groundwater quality, erosion/landslide and sedimentation, water pollution and sanitation, effect on aquatic life and wetland ecosystem), monitoring (baseline, impacts, and compliance), environmental auditing and institutional and procedural arrangements. |
| 2006 |
2063 |
Water Supply Management Board Act, 2063 (2006) |
Defines "Water supply service" as the provision of water to the users upon processing and purifying the natural water. |
Original text |
| Defines "Sanitation service" as an act of destroying, discharging, processing or purifying dirty water discharged from human beings or from domestic, trade or industrial use and all kinds of dirty substances mixed with such water. |
| The Board prevents the misuse of potable water and prevent pollution of potable water |
| The Board carry out, or cause to be carried out, study, research and survey on the source, distribution of potable water, and sanitation |
| The Board may punish a person causing adverse effect to the public health by contaminating the potable water, a fine of up to Twenty Five Thousand Rupees in view of the degree of the offence |
| 2015 |
2072 |
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 2015(2072 BS) |
Rights regarding clean environment
Right to healthcare
Right to food
Policies regarding the conservation, management and use of natural resources
Policies regarding the basic needs of citizens |
Updated by WECS, Nepal |
