Government unveils two white papers to strengthen water and weather sector

Kathmandu — The government has published two white papers aimed at strengthening the water and weather sector.

The white papers cover plans related to the Hydrology and Water Resources Research Centre under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

According to the department's draft white paper, traditional weather measurement stations across the country will be converted into automated weather stations in phases.

The white paper also mentions a plan to set up a separate aviation weather directorate under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology to reduce weather-related air accidents.

Similarly, the government plans to expand flood early warning systems to six major river basins in order to make flood forecasting more effective and reduce the risk of glacial lake outburst floods. The government has also proposed a plan to lower the water surface level of four glacial lakes.