Emerging Pillars for IWRM Implementation In Bangladesh

Abstract

Since the early 1990s, the IWRM approach has been performing for improving the water sector through minimising the water crisis in Bangladesh. Therefore, Bangladesh has developed three pillars (e.g., enabling environment, institutional arrangement, management instruments, etc.) favouring IWRM to meet the desired goal. Despite the ability to adequately address the cross-cutting and multiple issues of the water sector of Bangladesh, the IWRM approach is getting more complex day by day because the steps taken under the pillars may not work correctly. Given above, an attempt has been made to analyse how the existing contradictions in IWRM pillars (designed by Bangladesh) affect IWRM effectiveness. Using document analysis and semi-structured interviews, this paper provides an understanding of existing inconsistencies of IWRM pillars and the necessity of enhancing IWRM pillars for increasing IWRM implementation effectiveness in Bangladesh. The implementation challenges of the policy networks (policy, plan, strategy etc.) and implementation networks (water projects) made to ensure enabling environment affect IWRM effectiveness. Institutional power and responsibility are not defined in the policy rules and regulations correctly, causing problems in the institutional arrangement, which has affected IWRM effectiveness. Database related issues about the management instruments are also responsible in this regard. Necessary strategies and measures as per network management are recommended to enhance IWRM tools by resolving irregularities and improving IWRM effectiveness in Bangladesh.