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Falling groundwater, drought, arsenic and floods

How can safe, reliable water be secured without shifting costs or risk downstream?

Place-specific evidence and policy choices. A budget promise is not a completed service; older figures retain their reporting period. Proposed options and indicators below are for public discussion, not adopted government commitments.

Contested choiceA regional priority with choices about delivery and fairness

How can safe, reliable water be secured without shifting costs or risk downstream?1456

Updated 2026-10-13 · Version 1 · Sources · Change history

Question 1 What is the issue, and why does it matter?

The federal government declared all of Madhesh Province a disaster crisis area for three months because of drought on 2082 Saun 8 (July 2025).1

The choice is how to improve outcomes in this province, who benefits first, and which institution can act. The figures below belong to the stated reporting period; they are not a real-time measure of today’s conditions.

Question 2 What do current law and policy say?

Water supply services are provincial (Schedule 6, item 7) and local (Schedule 8, item 19); water supply and sanitation are federal–provincial concurrent (Schedule 7, item 18); water uses and environment are concurrent for all three levels (Schedule 9, item 7); water-resources policy is federal (Schedule 5, item 11).2

Agriculture, factories and industrialisation are provincial (Schedule 6, item 20); province-level irrigation is provincial (Schedule 6, item 7); central-level large irrigation projects such as Sunkoshi–Marin are federal (Schedule 5, item 14); local roads, agro-roads and irrigation, and agriculture and agro-product management, are local (Schedule 8, items 11 and 15); agriculture and irrigation services are concurrent for all three levels (Schedule 9, items 4 and 5).2

Disaster preparedness, relief and recovery is federal–provincial concurrent (Schedule 7, item 17), a local power (Schedule 8, item 20) and concurrent for all three levels (Schedule 9, item 9).2

Provincial executive power rests with the Council of Ministers. The Chief of Province (governor) performs constitutional and legal functions, generally on the Council’s recommendation and consent; the governor is not the department delivering these services. Provincial revenue and expenditure estimates go to the Provincial Assembly.3

Question 3 What is known, uncertain or disputed?

Known

The federal government declared all of Madhesh Province a disaster crisis area for three months because of drought on 2082 Saun 8 (July 2025).1

The provincial budget describes the falling groundwater level in the Tarai–Madhesh as a serious situation and funds recharge ponds and check dams; the federal budget funds 280 unfinished drinking water projects in the Terai/Madhesh (Rs 2.50 billion) and announces an 'Arsenic-Free Terai' campaign.45

In the September 2024 floods, Nepal Police data compiled by the disaster authority recorded 15 incidents and 8 deaths in Madhesh (preliminary), far fewer than in Bagmati; district tables show heavy house damage in Rautahat (544 houses fully and 2,185 partially destroyed).6

Uncertain

A province-wide number does not identify the worst-served wards or prove the same problem in every municipality. Before spending, establish a current local baseline, service quality, staffing, access barriers and the full operating cost.

Disputed

The policy choice is how to balance universal access, concentrated investment, affordability and fiscal sustainability. The alternatives below are Policy Nepal’s discussion options derived from the problem evidence, not claims that officials or parties have endorsed them.

Questions 4–5 What are the options, and what do they cost and achieve?

Options are listed in no particular order. Policy Nepal does not recommend one; real policies often combine them.

Repair and protect existing supplies1456

Test water quality and dry-season yield, locate leakage and unsafe connections, and protect recharge areas before promising more extraction.

Benefits
  • Can improve reliability while protecting households already dependent on the source.
Costs
  • Testing, trained operators, metering and maintenance require continued finance.
Trade-offs
  • Lower abstraction or enforceable quality rules may raise short-term costs or ration supply.
What does implementation require?
  • Publish seasonal test results and service hours; prioritise unsafe sources and households without affordable alternatives.

Build shared supply and drainage systems1456

Assess new intakes, storage, drainage and treatment jointly across affected municipalities, including source rights and long-term operating costs.

Benefits
  • Can address constraints that no single ward or municipality can solve alone.
Costs
  • Land, environmental assessment, construction, energy and operator finance must all be costed.
Trade-offs
  • Large schemes can create debt, displacement or downstream impacts if demand and consent are poorly assessed.
What does implementation require?
  • Disclose options and safeguards before procurement; fund maintenance and publish affordability support and grievance decisions.

Combining options

Start with a verified baseline and maintenance of functioning services, then test additional investment against the same outcomes. Publish who pays for capital costs, recurring costs and any household charges; an unfunded operating plan is not a sustainable solution.

Question 6 Who is responsible?

Shared
Drinking water and groundwater

Water supply services are provincial (Schedule 6, item 7) and local (Schedule 8, item 19); water supply and sanitation are federal–provincial concurrent (Schedule 7, item 18); water uses and environment are concurrent for all three levels (Schedule 9, item 7); water-resources policy is federal (Schedule 5, item 11).2

Shared
Farming, irrigation and agro-processing

Agriculture, factories and industrialisation are provincial (Schedule 6, item 20); province-level irrigation is provincial (Schedule 6, item 7); central-level large irrigation projects such as Sunkoshi–Marin are federal (Schedule 5, item 14); local roads, agro-roads and irrigation, and agriculture and agro-product management, are local (Schedule 8, items 11 and 15); agriculture and irrigation services are concurrent for all three levels (Schedule 9, items 4 and 5).2

Shared
Disaster and drought

Disaster preparedness, relief and recovery is federal–provincial concurrent (Schedule 7, item 17), a local power (Schedule 8, item 20) and concurrent for all three levels (Schedule 9, item 9).2

Provincial
Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and Provincial Assembly

Provincial executive power rests with the Council of Ministers. The Chief of Province (governor) performs constitutional and legal functions, generally on the Council’s recommendation and consent; the governor is not the department delivering these services. Provincial revenue and expenditure estimates go to the Provincial Assembly.3

Question 7 What have parties and leaders said and done?

What was said or promised is shown apart from what was recorded as done. Every entry needs a dated source. A missing entry means the position is not established, not that someone opposes or is neutral.

This dossier presents official evidence and research options. It does not assign a position to a chief minister, governor, mayor or political party without a dated source specific to this issue.

Said or promised

Position not established in reviewed sources.

Recorded actions and outcomes

Position not established in reviewed sources.

Question 8 What would progress look like, and when do we check again?

IndicatorLatest official figureOfficial targetRevisit
Safe water tests and reliable supply hours, by season and service area1456 Not established No official target found 2026-10-20
Flood duration, drainage blockages and households receiving reliable service1456 Not established No official target found 2026-10-20

Sources

Grouped by type of evidence. Government plans show what government intends; they are not proof of results. Party material shows what a party says.

Constitution & law

  1. The Constitution of Nepal (English translation, incl. first and second amendments), Schedules 5–9 — Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal, Gazette publication 20 September 2015 (2072/06/03); amended 2016 and 2020. Schedule 5 (federal powers), pp. 193–195; Schedule 6 (provincial powers), pp. 196–197; Schedule 7 (federal–provincial concurrent powers), pp. 198–199; Schedule 8 (local powers), pp. 200–201; Schedule 9 (concurrent powers of all three levels), p. 202. Item numbers are given in each statement that cites this source.. Checked 2026-10-11
  2. Constitution of Nepal, English translation with first and second amendments — Nepal Law Commission. Articles 162, 166, 207–208; Schedules 6–9. English translation; Nepali text authoritative.. Checked 2026-10-13

Government plans & policy

  1. बजेट वक्तव्य २०८३-८४ (Budget statement FY 2083/84), presented by Finance Minister Yuvraj Bhattarai — Ministry of Finance, Madhesh Province, 2083 Asar 1 (15 June 2026). Paras 5–6 (GDP share, growth and per capita income for FY 2082/83; sector shares), printed p. 2 (PDF p. 5); paras 7–8 (FY 2082/83 budget and spending; dependence on federal grants), printed p. 3; paras 13–14 (priorities), printed p. 4; paras 22–29 (agriculture: seed, direct subsidy, commodity exchange, crop insurance, makhana and sugarcane, cold stores, flagship farming, solar pumps), printed pp. 6–7; paras 30–32 (irrigation, groundwater recharge), printed p. 8; paras 33–39 (start-up fund, employment, one-window service, branding, Birgunj–Simara–Hetauda corridor, Madhesh–Bihar corridor, labour bank, returnees), printed pp. 8–10; paras 41–44 (literacy campaign, school meals, volunteer teachers, scholarship fund), printed p. 10; section 'बजेटको आकार र स्रोत व्यवस्थापन', items 1–3, printed p. 31 (PDF p. 34). Checked 2026-10-11
  2. Budget Speech for Fiscal Year 2026/27 (2083/84) (unofficial English translation) — Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal, 2083 Jestha 15 (29 May 2026). Para 21(a), (d), (e) (Mid-Madhesh Quadrangle; northern eco-trade destinations; Koshi Corridor), pp. 9–10; para 34 (child nutrition allowance in 25 districts), p. 16; para 41(k), (q) (Galchhi–Syaphrubesi–Rasuwagadhi road; Bathnaha–Biratnagar and Janakpur–Jayanagar–Bardibas railway), p. 19; para 42(a)–(b) (Terai/Madhesh drinking water and 'Arsenic-Free Terai'; Yangri–Larke diversion to Melamchi), p. 21; para 43(b)–(i) (hydropower projects, transmission lines, Hetauda green hydrogen pilot, Kathmandu Valley battery storage), pp. 22–23; para 44(d)–(e) (Sunkoshi–Marin; irrigation of 122,000 ha in Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha), p. 23; para 50(d) (mango processing in Siraha and Saptari; tomato processing in Sarlahi), p. 30; para 52(b), (e), (f) (Janakpur; World Heritage initiative; provincial tourism corridors), pp. 32–33; para 69(d)–(e) (Nepali liquor brands; microbreweries; excise on alcohol), pp. 44–45; para 73(d) (agro-processing tax exemption; VAT exemption on cold-storage machinery), p. 47. Checked 2026-10-11

Official data

  1. मनसुन २०८२ को अवस्था प्रतिवेदन (Monsoon 2082 Situation Report) — National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs, Covers 2082 Jestha 15 – Asoj 24; posted 11 November 2025. p. 1 (Madhesh Province declared a disaster crisis area for drought on 2082 Saun 8; Ilam district declared on 2082 Asoj 23). Checked 2026-10-11
  2. A Preliminary Loss and Damage Assessment of Flood and Landslide, September 2024 — National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs, 28 October 2024. p. 13 (Kathmandu Valley flooding; rapid urban growth and inadequate drainage), PDF p. 16; p. 17 (Nepal Police province table: incidents, deaths, missing, injured, houses destroyed; Bagmati 208 of 238 deaths, Koshi 20, Madhesh 8), PDF p. 20; district house-damage table (Kavrepalanchok 3,121 fully destroyed houses), PDF p. 23. Checked 2026-10-11
Change history
  1. 2026-10-13 — Expanded the province challenge into the same eight-question format as national issues. (Regional issues deserve equally accessible evidence, options, responsibilities and tracking. Original dates and sources retained; policy options are editorial proposals.)