I. NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

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D. Sectoral Ministries 

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The other sectoral ministries and agencies under those ministries are directly responsible for taking adequate measures to prevent or minimize adverse environmental consequences in their respective areas of development. For example, theMinistry of Industry is responsible for the preparation and enforcement of adequate environmental standards for the industrial sector, while the Ministry of Water Resources serves as the key agency in the water resources sector.

1. Ministry of Agriculture

A number of agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture provide technology and extension services not only to producers but also to traders and processors of agricultural products. Its various departments and other entities operating at the central and local levels constitute a wide network throughout Nepal. Those entities are: the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) which develops suitable technologies and disseminates them to producers, traders and processing entrepreneurs; the Department of Agriculture, which deals with extension and training in all agriculturally-related areas excluding livestock management and veterinary services; the Department of Livestock Services, which deals with extension and training for the livestock subsector, including pasture management; the Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board, which promotes the tea and coffee industries; the National Dairy Development Board which promotes the dairy industry; and the National Seed Development Board which promotes the seed industry.

Of direct concern in the present context is the role of the Central Food Research Laboratory in implementing the Food Act, 1966, the Animal Feed Act, 1976, and their corresponding regulations.

2. Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation

3. Ministry of Industry

The Ministry of Industry has been implementing a project on industrial pollution control management with support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with four main objectives: (a) the formulation of an appropriate policy on pollution control and management; (b) the development of industrial pollution standards; (c) the strengthening of laboratory facilities; and (d) human resources development for industrial pollution control and management. One of the outcomes of the project has been the preparation of "industrial pollution control regulations for air and water discharges", which are awaiting Cabinet approval. Two other initiatives are in process: "industry-specific discharge standards for air- and water-borne environmental contamination"; and "industrial waste management policy in Nepal". A separate cell on Environment and Technology Transfer also exists within the ministry.

TheDepartment of Industry, the Department of Cottage and Small-Scale Industries and the Cottage and Small Industry Promotion Board are responsible for promoting industries as well as for enforcing norms, guidelines and standards related to adverse environmental impacts arising from industries. Both the Department of Industry/Irrigation and the Department of Cottage and Small-Scale Industries have an environment unit which performs the following functions: (a) enforcement of the discharge standards; (b) applying IEE and EIA to industries; (c) issuing permits for industrial establishment; and (d) monitoring emissions and effluent discharges.

The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Meteorology (NBSM) is responsible for setting standards for air, water and other environment-related components, and for enforcing those standards. NBSM is also mandated to fix effluent and emission standards for industries and motor vehicles.

The other ministries involved in policy-making related to the environment and their responsibilities are detailed in annex I. Other agencies responsible for formulating plans, policies and regulations are detailed below.

(a)Nepal Agricultural Research Council

NARC is chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and is responsible for undertaking and encouraging research on various aspects of agriculture.

(b)Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology

The Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology is responsible of undertaking and encouraging all aspects of scientific research in the country and for maintaining liaison with similar institutions outside Nepal.

(c)Nepal Electricity Authority

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is a public sector organization, responsible for the generation and distribution of electricity to urban and rural areas. Remote areas are served by decentralized small hydropower and diesel plants. The Small Hydropower Development Board of NEA was recently restructured into the Small Hydropower Department under the Rural Electrification Directorate. NEA does not implement micro-hydropower projects below 100 kW.

(d)Product Testing Institutes

A number of public sector agencies are engaged in providing analytical services relevant to the environment. They include: (a) the Central Food Research Laboratory, under the Ministry of Agriculture, which is the principal agency providing technical inputs and analytical services in the enforcement of food and feed quality standards in accordance with the Food Act, 1966, and the Animal Feed Act, 1976; and (b) NBSM, which is the technical arm of the Ministry of Industry and is responsible for setting standards, and undertaking laboratory testing and environmental auditing. NBSM also has a separate cell responsible for industrial pollution monitoring and evaluation. It has already established one central laboratory in Kathmandu and two regional laboratories in Birgunj and Butwal. A third regional laboratory has been proposed for Biratnagar.

A small number of laboratories are available in the private sector which specialize in chemical and other tests related to air and water pollution. While those laboratories have not been accredited by the government institutions concerned, the policy is to gradually accredit private laboratories which meet minimum service qualities and technical capability. One such laboratory was recently accredited by the Ministry of Industry.

The above review demonstrates that the existing national level institutions are adequate for responding to the needs of Nepal as far as the integration of environmental considerations into the policy decision process is concerned. However, considerable gaps exist in coordination, both in terms of achieving coherence among macro level and sectoral policies, and in their implementation at different levels. Those gaps emanate from: (a) an inadequacy of trained manpower in the agencies concerned; and (b) a lack of motivation among the agencies in presenting a united front in facing the issues.

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