21 May 2005 - After a series of discussions and meetings over the last few years the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) member countries, except for India, endorsed a project document to establish a flood information network during a two-day meeting held in Thimphu which ended on May 18. 

The project aims to reduce flood vulnerabilities and save lives and infrastructure in the Hindu Kush Himalayas region of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, China, Nepal and Pakistan which share the major river basins of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. 

The first phase of the project, will test the feasibility of the hydrological and meteorological systems in each country,” said Dr. Wolfgang Grabs from the World Meteorological Organization adding that the network has been designed and defined by the countries & two hydrological and two meteorological stations have been identified in each country. “Data and information will also be shared through the existing systems,” he said. 

Based on the result of the first phase, the identified stations will be upgraded according to their needs and data collected will be sent to the project centre at ICIMOD in Kathmandu, Nepal and the final phase will see the full implementation of the project. 

According to officials from the Hydro Meteorological Service Division (HMSD) hydrological stations and meteorological stations have been identified in Kurichu river basin in Mongar and Pochu river basin in Punakha.

“The benefits that can be accrued from the project is a win-win situation for all countries,” said Mandira Shrestha, water resources specialist and project coordinator from ICIMOD. “It provides an opportunity for technological and knowledge transfer helping to strengthen institutional capacity and creating public awareness in flood management, the needs and its benefits and helps improve national flood forecasting systems.”

“From a regional point of view it is possible through the project to develop a regional flood outlook,” said Dr. Grabs. “Bangladesh would see how a situation is developing in Nepal and anticipate better what is happening,” he said.

“The immediate benefits are more with the low appearing countries but this is done as a sign of good neighbourhood in a regional framework,” said Dr. Grabs.

While countries like India and Bangladesh lying in the lower part of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins can improve their forecast on floods based on the information shared countries like Bhutan and Nepal lying on the upper side of the watershed can build up their capacities according to experts.

The problem in Bhutan is not major river floods compared to higher priorities like flash floods, glacial lake outbursts, landslides and debris flow, said Dr. Grabs. “Indoor flashfloods are not dealt with in this project but the instrumentations, the telecommunications infrastructure, the warning mechanism are very similar and in this Bhutan gets access to expertise and equipment.”

Stating floods to be a major threat to Bhutan the superintending engineer of the Hydro Meteorological Service Division, Karma Chophel, said that the infrastructure development and capacity building would help in better flood management.

“Although floods cannot be stopped people living downstream can be warned on the probability of a flood occurring and lives and property can be saved,” said Karma Chophel adding that a dramatic change, a gradual increase in the water level or heavy rainfall were some of the indicators of the probability of flood.

According to HMSD officials hydrological and meteorological information is transmitted through a wireless network and in some places telephones were kept as back up.

“Among the member countries, Bhutan and Nepal are still in the early stages of infrastructure and technological development,” said Madira Shrestha.