Nepal’s House of Representatives (HoR) has passed the Water Resources Bill 2025. Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Minister Deepak Khadka’s motion to pass the bill was endorsed by a majority of the House in Monday’s sitting.
“The bill addresses both the benefits and hazards of water,” Minister Khadka said, adding that, once enacted, the Water Resources Commission will prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to help ensure fair water distribution.
Designed for Nepal’s federal structure, the bill creates a legal framework to divide responsibilities, authority and revenue among federal, provincial and local governments for developing and operating water‑resources projects. It has also drafted policy guidelines for implementing the principles for the usage, conservation, and integrated development of surface water and groundwater in Nepal.
Notably, the bill has made provisions for assessing risk and benefit sharing for upstream and downstream areas when dams or reservoirs are built so that benefits can be shared equitably. Establishing a Water Resources Commission to oversee integrated, sustainable development, utilisation, conservation, and management of water resources is also a major feature of the bill.
The government registered the bill in Parliament on June 14, 2024 .
