Water Security, Pandemic and Climate Change - Incorporating Public Health into Future Water Policy:

Bengal through three mighty rivers and their tributar- ies and distributaries, namely the Ganges, the Brah- Blue Economy of Bangladesh (Before and After maputra, and the Meghna drain.1 The Bay of Bengal COVID-19) occupies the northeastern end of the Indian Ocean bordering India to the west, Bangladesh to the north, While countries like China, Japan, and The Philip- Myanmar to the east, and Sri Lan. [...] States in the Bay of Bengal, especially Ban- and surveillance sectors for the development of the gladesh, are battling to varying degrees with issues blue economy in Bangladesh.6 But the recent pan- of corruption, inadequate provision of public and demic has halted many of the ongoing projects and private services, political and economic exclusion, the economy is thus facing a setback. [...] ing of water security in Bhutan is based on The indicators measure the water availability of (2) the development of adequate and climate-re- Bhutan has been one of the most successful coun- the Bhutan Water Security Index (BWSI) that surface and groundwater in selected districts silient infrastructure; tries in the world in combating COVID-19 with a is comprised of five dimensions, namely and main. [...] These The 12th Five-Year-Plan (FYP), which is the approaches to the water supply chain from the The population using improved drinking water reasons, in addition to Bhutan’s geographical national developmental roadmap for all gov- catchment to the consumer point; and sources was 97 per cent, and the population using positioning in the Himalayas, have been fur- ernmental agencies for the next five. [...] The lack of the Maangdechhu and Drangmechhu; and the five targets in the programme relevant to this paper a Safe Drinking Water Flagship Programme necessary water supply-related infrastruc- minor river basins include: Jaldakha, Aiechhu, include the implementation of the Water Act (SDWFP) to be implemented by the Ministry of ture required will adversely impact the issue Nyera Amari, Jomori and Mera.