Siliguri: Researchers, government officials and civil society groups have called for a national policy framework to protect the natural springs that supply water to millions in the Himalayas, warning that their decline threatens mountain water security.
The demand emerged from a multi-stakeholder dialogue held in Siliguri on Saturday, attended by 42 participants from 25 organisations.
The meeting was organised by SaciWATERs with Heinrich Böll Stiftung. Participants included government and public health engineering officials, municipal and forest representatives, researchers, media and tourism practitioners.
Springs in decline
Speaking at the event, Dr Kabindra Sharma, a Fellow at SaciWATERs, said piped delivery alone could not secure water supplies. “Water security cannot be achieved through delivery infrastructure alone,” he said, adding that spring mapping, protection of recharge areas, rejuvenation measures and community participation were also essential.
Sharma cited a 2018 NITI Aayog assessment, which found that nearly 30% of springs in the Indian Himalayan Region had dried up and about 50% had seen reduced discharge. Participants said springs sustain the water security and livelihoods of an estimated 50 million people across the region. Beyond drinking water, they support agriculture and tourism and underpin the resilience of mountain communities.
Dr Ghanshyam Sharma described Sikkim’s Dhara Vikas programme, launched in 2008. He stressed the need for sound hydrogeological understanding and accurate identification of recharge zones, including the use of radioisotope studies on selected springs in the Pandam area.
Dr Subash Dhakal, Deputy Director, Land and Revenue, Government of Sikkim, said expanding springshed management would require dedicated funding and locally suited schemes.
Raj Basu of the Association for Conservation and Tourism said tourism development should be aligned with local water availability and follow more sustainable practices. Sambarta, Range Forest Officer, Kurseong, emphasised ecologically appropriate forest management, while Pramod Giri of Himal World called for greater public awareness and informed engagement on water shortages.
Key recommendations
The central recommendation was a coherent national policy framework for the protection and governance of springs and their recharge areas across the Indian Himalayan Region.
Participants also called for clearly defined institutional responsibilities and stronger coordination among government departments, along with dedicated financing and the integration of springshed management into existing water programmes. They further urged recognition of community-led conservation and Indigenous knowledge in planning and implementing spring protection measures.
A follow-up policy dialogue is scheduled for October 8, where elected representatives and senior policymakers will consider the recommendations. Discussions are expected to focus on policy priorities, institutional responsibilities, inter-departmental coordination and financing mechanisms for springshed management.
Participants stressed that long-term water security in the Eastern Himalayas will depend on protecting the springs and landscapes that feed water supplies, not on pipes and infrastructure alone.
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