As water-related problems accumulate in Bhutan, policy-makers call for legislation to regulate water-sharing. A draft Water Act was prepared in 2002 by the Bhutan Water Partnership, but has been in hibernation ever since. The Act would make water resources government property, to be shared equally and justly. Until it becomes law, however, water is distributed according to the traditional system which, in the words of Kezang Jamtsho of the Anti-Corruption Commission, is 'corrupt, unjust, feudal and exploitative'.

Jamtsho says that the system has allowed generations of richer families water rights, creating 'water beggar communities' with no rights at all. The system is seen as an obstacle by both the rural water supply scheme, which supplies rural areas with drinking water, and the ministry of agriculture, which implements irrigation projects.

The National Environment Commission (NEC) was made responsible for water-sharing in 2003 and for the Water Act. But NEC deputy minister says that the Commission lacks the manpower and resources to complete the process of framing the Act.

Related news: Corruption in the water sector: overlooked threat for development and sustainability, Source Weekly, 24 Jul 2008

Related publication: Bhutan Water Partnership (2003). Bhutan water policy. Thimphu, Bhutan, Royal Government of Bhutan. PDF file - HTML version.

Contact: Mr. Chencho Norbu Chair, Bhutan Water Partnership (BhWP), c\o Royal Society for the Protection of Nature, Bhutan, phuntshok88@yahoo.co.uk, tphuntsho@rspnbhutan.org This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Source: Tenzing Lamsang, Kuensel Online, 26 Jul 2008

Tags: governance, policies & legislation, south asia, water distribution, water resources management