Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: The Nepali government has decided to withdraw the Water Resources Bill, reversing its legislative journey despite its passage by the House of Representatives over a year ago. The decision, announced by Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari following Monday’s Cabinet meeting, marks an unexpected turn, though the government has not officially disclosed the reasons for the withdrawal.
The bill, initially tabled by then-Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet on May 14, 2024 (Jestha 31, 2081), underwent nearly a year of clause-by-clause discussion in parliamentary committees. It was passed by the House of Representatives on May 18, 2025 (Jestha 5, 2082), and subsequently sent to the National Assembly, where it was tabled on June 9, 2025 (Jestha 26, 2082). The withdrawal comes at a stage when the bill was under consideration in the upper house.
Under the procedural framework, the government will now submit a formal withdrawal notice to the House of Representatives, the originating chamber, to initiate the process. Although parliamentary approval is required, the government’s comfortable majority is likely to ensure smooth passage of the withdrawal motion.
The move has raised eyebrows, with speculation swirling about internal policy shifts or external pressures influencing the decision. Stakeholders await an official statement to clarify the government’s rationale, as the withdrawal could impact ongoing water resource management and hydropower development initiatives in Nepal.
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