Why in News ?
- Event: Report highlighting the drying of Himalayan springs and its impact on livelihoods, women, and local culture in Darjeeling Hills.
- Source: Field reportage and research by Kabindra Sharma, IUCN India Fellow, supported by NITI Aayog data.
- Context: Nearly 50% of springs in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) are drying up, threatening water security, agriculture, and traditional lifestyles.
Relevance:
- GS-1: Society – Livelihoods, Gendered burden, Cultural impacts of water scarcity.
- GS-2: Governance – Water security policy, Spring revival initiatives, Climate-resilient local governance.
- GS-3: Environment – Hydrology, Deforestation, Ecosystem services, Agriculture dependency.
Understanding Himalayan Springs ?
- Definition: Springs are natural groundwater outlets, providing freshwater for drinking, irrigation, and livestock.
- Significance:
- Source of water for 200 million people across ecologically fragile mountain systems in India (Himalayas, Western/Eastern Ghats, Aravallis).
- Sustain agriculture, livestock, and local livelihoods.
- Cultural and social importance; tied to traditional practices and local knowledge.
- Historical self-reliance: Villages like Kolbong Khasmahal were once self-sufficient in vegetables and milk, relying on local water sources.
Causes of Drying Springs
- Climate shifts: Changing rainfall patterns, unpredictable monsoons, and prolonged dry periods.
- Deforestation & unsustainable land-use: Reduced soil water retention, increased runoff, and diminished aquifer recharge.
- Anthropogenic neglect: Limited recognition in national water governance frameworks prior to 2018; National Water Policies of 1987, 2002, 2012 made no mention of springs.
- Local impacts: Excessive withdrawal, lack of spring recharge practices, and encroachment.
Socio-Economic Impacts
- Water access burden on women:
- Average of 2 hours/day spent fetching water from distant springs.
- Physical strain, health risks, and impact on household management.
- Livelihood loss:
- Decline in local vegetable production and dairy products like churpi.
- Dependence on imported vegetables and packaged milk from towns like Dhupguri and Maynaguri.
- Migration: Youth move to cities due to declining local economic opportunities.
- Pandemic effect: Returning migrants found parched lands and dry springs, compounding livelihood challenges.
Environmental and Ecological Implications
- Water stress: Springs drying → reduced soil moisture → declining crop productivity.
- Forest degradation: Feedback loop with deforestation and drought further reduces natural recharge of springs.
- Biodiversity: Reduced water availability affects flora, fauna, and livestock dependent on spring-fed ecosystems.
- Ecological crisis: Combined hydrological, agricultural, and biodiversity loss threatens the Himalayan ecosystem.
Policy & Governance Context
- NITI Aayog 2018 Report: First formal acknowledgment of spring degradation; launched Inventory and Revival of Springs for Water Security in the Himalayas.
- Gap in policy: Prior national water policies ignored mountain spring systems, reflecting institutional neglect.
- Regional water governance: Ongoing initiatives by SaciWATERs and IUCN India focus on climate resilience, water management, and revival of springs.
Cultural and Human Security Implications
- Springs are intertwined with traditions, local knowledge, and community identity.
- Drying springs are a non-traditional security threat:
- Threat to livelihoods and food security.
- Gendered burden on women’s labor and time.
- Potential migration and social disruption.
Key Facts / Data
| Parameter | Value / Observation |
| Himalayan springs dried | ~50% of total springs in IHR |
| People dependent on spring water | ~200 million across India |
| Daily water fetching time (women) | ~2 hours/day in Darjeeling villages |
| Economic shift | From locally produced vegetables/milk to imported vegetables and packaged milk |
| Recognition in policy | NITI Aayog 2018 report on Inventory & Revival of Springs |
