An initiative known as Regional Cooperation in Sediment Management was recently launched by the World Bank, as part of its South Asia Water Initiative Programme.rnA kick-off Workshop held in Kathmandu on 16 and 17 June, bringing together practitioners from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Sir Lanka and Japan,rnas well as experts from USA and Europe (Norway and France).rnThe aim was to identify practical sediment management tools and to foster future cooperation in sediment management-related research activities.rnIt was noted that, despite the priority given to the power sector development in Asia, limitations in the availability of a reliable supply of power remain one of the most basic constraints to economic and human development in South Asia. It is well known that the South Asian region has a vast hydropower potential, equivalent to about 200 to 250 GW, of which at least half could be harnessed. Large volumes of monsoon flows and snow and glacier melt cascading down the Himalayas and other ranges could potentially be exploited, but so far only about 20 per cent of this has been developed.
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