CONSIDERING ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH ASIA: CURRENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Environmental flow (EF) indicates, in general, the minimum required flow to maintain the valued features of a river system. The concept of EF is central to achieving sustainable water resources management. Adopting the EF at a river basin scale however, poses a great challenge and is observed still at its infancy. An attempt is, therefore, made to reflect the implication and need of the EF in sustainable water resources management including the challenges most likely the water professionals face in adopting the EF. This paper further reviews the current status of the adoption and use of the EF approach in water resources management, in particular for the South Asian countries where freshwater is becoming scarce, leading to an environmental water scarcity. The review finds modest progress in assessment and adoption of EF into water resources management in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India; however, Bangladesh and Nepal show an early stage progressing. Towards the end a few recommendations have been put forward on the measures required in recognizing the EF as an effective tool in integrated water resource management.