Water Resource Management through Spring and Catchment Rejuvenation in Uttarakhand for Improving Water Security

Himalayan glaciers and rivers, address the water need of people of the Himalayan states and India as a whole. However, despite the state's multiple water reserves, many districts of Uttarakhand face acute water scarcity. Springs of Himalaya are drying up or turning from perennial to seasonal. Since, most of the mountain communities are heavily dependent on springs for safe and reliable water supply, it has become obligatory to preserve and manage these springs. Moreover, in Uttarakhand 72% women and 14% children have to bear the responsibility of carrying potable water. Almost 60% of women have to walk ½ km while 10% of women walk 4 km for fetching water. The drudgery is because of the unavailability of drinking water both in terms of quality and quantity. Springs have been the most secured and highly reliable sources of potable water for the mountain communities so far. Therefore, protection and preservation of these springs has to be the priority to ensure water security. Hence, this work needs to be done in both the fronts of mitigation and adaptation to maintain a sustainable water supply for the well-being of the communities at large. The project aims to resolve this problem by providing scientific and technological solutions for the revival of these springs in the state, which is the need and demand of the time.