Image courtesy: http://sikkimsprings.org/
Mountain springs emanating naturally from unconfined aquifers are the primary source of water for the rural households in the Himalayan region. With impacts of climate change, manifested in the form of rising temperatures, rise in rainfall intensity, reduction in its temporal spread and a marked decline in winter rain, the problem of dying springs is being increasingly felt across this region.
These discrete aquifers drastically increase the challenge of monitoring water availability and managing recharge measures. These challenges are compounded by the lack of data concerning springs. A laudable step in the direction has been taken by the Government of Sikkim. The state has an extensive program for the conservation of its springs. As part of this program mapping of springs and collection of discharge data has been carried out resulting in the creation of a village spring atlas for the conservation of Himalayan springs and adapting to climate change. The importance of this project was acknowledged when it won the Special Jury Mention at the 'eNorth East Awards 2011' recently.
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