Our Campaign

The Karnali River is the last free-flowing river in Nepal, and home to community subsistence fishing, abundant wildlife -including Ganges river dolphins, crocodile, Bengal tiger, numerous bird and terrestrial species, along with the golden mahseer, a prized sport fish, and some of the world’s best whitewater rafting. Unfortunately the Karnali is also targeted for major hydropower development. One of the major projects, the Upper Karnali Hydropower project, a 900 MW Hydroelectric dam proposed by an Indian company for selling power primarily to Bangladesh and to a lesser extent, India, would dewater over 50km of the river by forcing the entire flow through a massive underground tunnel, shortcutting a long sharp bend in the river. Fish passage would not be possible in this design.

This project would not benefit Nepal or local communities. The lengthy transmission lines would create substantial losses in electricity, and other hydro projects underway in the region will soon be able to meet any regional increases in electricity demand. Instead of extractive industries that offer little economic benefits beyond the construction phase, instead leaving long-term destruction of valuable natural resources, the communities along the Karnali need to create a sustainable future that prioritizes the health of the river, the communities and their surrounding environment. Eco tourism has great potential in the area, as the popularity of rafting, kayaking, trekking, fly fishing and other forms of adventure grow in popularity.

Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT), Waterkeeper Alliance (WKA) and partner organizations will build public awareness and valuation of the Karnali as a free-flowing river and implement a multi-pronged approach to pressure the Nepal government and project proponents of the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project  along with other planned projects, to abandon their plans and to deny necessary permits for the hydropower dam.

The project is built around four pillars:

1. Building public awareness of the value of a free-flowing Karnali River, in Karnali River communities, in Kathmandu, throughout Nepal, as well as internationally.
2. Working in Karnali River communities to build a vision for a sustainable future for the region that prioritizes sustainable development that exists in harmony with a healthy, free-flowing Karnali river.
3. Expanding and communicating scientific knowledge of essential river processes, fish and wildlife needs, while further establishing ecosystem preservation policies and activities (example: Mahseer Conservation Area)
4. Conducting legal advocacy, grassroots advocacy, financial advocacy and international communications to build public demand for saving the Karnali while pressuring courts, ministries and potential financiers to protect the river from the planned hydropower dam.

To anchor the project, the groups will grow a broad coalition under the name “Save the Karnali” and will promote this brand to gather strength for the campaign. Specific outreach activities include showing a new documentary film on the Karnali River in Kathmandu and online, revamping and promoting the Karnaliriver.org website, and creating and distributing campaign materials in Nepal and elsewhere while supporting these actions with international communications from WKA. In addition, NRCT will hold workshops for policy makers, planners, outdoor recreation businesses and citizens (youth, students, etc.)

NRCT will establish a presence on the ground in the Karnali, building friends and allies there. NRCT staff will meet with local and Indigenous leaders and their communities to build trust and support to oppose hydropower development, while encouraging sustainable development in the area. NRCT will launch a new Ecotourism Center that will help train area youth with useful skills in river recreation, adventure travel and eco-tourism industries. NRCT and WKA will also coordinate with international adventure travel businesses and brands to promote saving the Karnali.

To demonstrate the value of a free flowing Karnali, NRCT will conduct a high-profile multi-day wilderness paddle race ‘The Great Karnali Quest’ in 2022 through a stretch of the river that would be dewatered by the proposed hydro power dam. In 2021 NRCT will hold a precursor kayak-only event that will be easier to accomplish during potential COVID restrictions.

The groups will also develop a credible and scientifically sound narrative for protecting a free-flowing Karnali, highlighting the needs of migratory fish, particularly the golden mahseer, an endangered but valuable and popular subsistence and game fish.

The groups will apply pressure through various advocacy channels to deny permits and financing for the dam construction.  Importantly this will include advocacy to ministers in Bangladesh, where the power would be purchased. To apply pressure directly to the Nepal government, the groups will send international letters to Nepali ministers, and call for direct meetings (that could include Waterkeeper Alliance staff and/or leadership, COVID travel restrictions permitting). NRCT will engage attorneys to analyze the permitting process to identify deficiencies with the environmental assessment, prior consultation or other processes to look for opportunities to use the Nepali courts to deny licenses and permits.

General Objectives:

To protect a Free Flowing Karnali River by defeating the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project and other planned projects in the mainstem.