Three Hydro-economic Modeling (HEM) Workshops were held between June 7-11, 2018 in Nepal as part of the Digo Jal Balikas project’s efforts to more thoroughly evaluate the potential socioenvironmental impacts of various proposed water infrastructure projects in the Karnali and Mahakali River Basins. 40 participants from national level government departments and ministries, including energy, agriculture, soil conservation, as well as NGOs and local and regional stakeholders gathered to discuss the status of the HEM work to date, their visions of development for the region, and how this information can most usefully be disseminated. Participants provided useful feedback, such as the need to include groundwater in addition to surface water — even if the data is outdated — and that environmental benefits, like flood control, should be better incorporated and valued. These workshops are a critical component of the multi-stakeholder participatory process that will help the project team to adjust and finalize the hydro-economic model by January 2019. It is hoped that this model, in turn, will be used to support further dialogue, understanding, and decision-making.
Stakeholders who participated in HEM workshop, Kathmandu, Nepal, on June 7, 2018.
