Considering the importance of springs along with their drying out and deterioration in condition, the forest department has formed a springshed management consortium. Headed by the principal chief conservator of forests, this consortium has as its members, various officials of the forest department along with officials of other departments concerned and members of voluntary organisations.
According to the order issued by the PCCF Jai Raj, Uttarakhand is a very important state from the view point of glaciers and rivers but in general there has been a decrease in the availability of water. Considering this, it has become all the more important to ensure scientific conservation of rainwater on a wide scale. Rainwater conservation directly affects springs which are drying out in the state. A report of the NITI Aayog on springs revival released earlier this year mentions that in the past decades there has been a clear decrease of about 60 per cent in the water level of low discharge springs in the Himalayan region. According to this report, in the Almora region alone, 300 springs have dried out in the past 150 years.
The report also mentions that in the Himalayan region, about 60 per cent of the local people depend on springs for meeting their water requirements. It is essential to revive and rejuvenate springs in the state considering their importance for biodiversity and meeting the water requirements of the people. With 71 per cent of the state’s geographical area categorised as forest area, the recharge zones of most of the springs are located in forest areas. The forest department is undertaking elaborate measures for rainwater conservationin view of the next monsoon which is essential for springshed management.
To ensure proper springshed management in the state, the department has now formed a springshed management consortium. Headed by the PCCF, this consortium has 18 members and a member secretary.
Apart from Forest department officials, this consortium comprises officials of various departments concerned and representatives of non governmental organisations.
According to the PCCF, Jai Raj, this consortium will also take cognisance of the NITI Aayog report on springs revival and will take effective measures with the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure revival of springs in the state.
The member secretary will hold meetings from time to time and also coordinate with various non governmental organisations to facilitate capacity building.