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Indian Express
03-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Himalayan springs are drying. It's a threat to India's ecological stability and national security
Written by Kabindra Sharma and Vimal Khawas In a village in Darjeeling Himalaya, women now spend over an hour each morning fetching water from a drying spring that once flowed freely just outside their homes. What was once a region abundant in freshwater is now marked by growing scarcity, as springs, the primary source of water for Himalayan communities, are drying up at an alarming rate. This slow but steady disappearance of springs is not merely a rural inconvenience; it indicates a deepening ecological crisis with significant human security implications. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) stretches approximately 2,500 km and supports the livelihood of over 50 million people. Known as the 'water tower of South Asia', it is the source of major river systems, including the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, fed by glaciers and numerous springs. These springs, critical groundwater sources, are vital for local communities and ensure the ecological and hydrological stability of downstream regions. Though 70 per cent of Earth's surface is covered by water, only 2.5 per cent is freshwater, and less than 0.3 per cent is usable. India, home to 18 per cent of the world's population and 15 per cent of its livestock, depends on just 4 per cent of global freshwater resources. According to Central Water Commission, India's per capita water availability has significantly decreased from 5,177 cubic meters in 1951 to 1,486 in 2021 and is projected to decline further to 1,367 cubic meters by urban water crises gain attention, remote Himalayan villages bear the brunt of this scarcity, often overlooked. According to a 2018 report by NITI Aayog, nearly 50 per cent of springs in the IHR are either drying up or have already dried up. Across India, approximately 200 million people rely on spring water, particularly in ecologically fragile mountain systems such as the Himalayas, Western and Eastern Ghats, and the Aravallis. Yet, until recently, these vital sources have received scant attention in national water governance frameworks. The national water policies of 1987 and 2012, which constitute the most comprehensive water policies of India to date, made no mention of springs. This omission reflects a broader pattern of institutional neglect. It was only in 2018 that NITI Aayog released its first report on the Inventory and Revival of Springs in the Himalayas for Water Security, formally acknowledging both the significance and degradation of these sources. Since then, incremental steps have been taken. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, through the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), has supported a number of pilot initiatives focused on spring revival. Yet, these efforts remain fragmented and insufficient in scale. Field evidence indicates that a systematic approach is both essential and feasible. Sikkim's Dhara Vikas initiative, launched in 2008, exemplifies sustainable innovation in addressing water scarcity. By employing hydro-geological techniques like contour trenches and percolation pits, the programme has mapped nearly 2,000 springs, reviving approximately 200 springs and six lakes across 1,000 hectares. This effort recharges over 1.7 million litres of groundwater annually, enhancing water access, sanitation, and crop yields for rural communities, demonstrating a scalable model for sustainable water management. Similarly, a pilot project by Sikkim University implemented under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies in a drought-prone Darjeeling village significantly enhanced spring discharge within three years. These examples highlight the effectiveness of community-driven, hydro-geologically informed solutions. However, the consequences of inaction are increasingly apparent. The depletion of springs goes beyond reduced availability fuelling social conflicts. Reports from villages highlight rising disputes over water access often turning into verbal and physical clashes. This erosion of a shared resource is weakening trust and cooperation in rural Himalayan communities, posing both ecological and socio-political challenges. In strategically critical Himalayan border districts, where both civilian and military infrastructure rely on local water systems, drying springs also raise national security concerns. Ensuring water availability is, therefore, vital not only for sustaining livelihoods but also for maintaining national stability. Without a dedicated national framework for spring-shed management, especially in the vulnerable Himalayan region, flagship initiatives like Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), aiming to provide functional household tap connections to all rural households by 2026, face significant implementation hurdles. Although the Ministry of Jal Shakti's 2019 guidelines acknowledge the need for spring rejuvenation, the focus remains on integrating with overstretched schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), Finance Commission grants, state initiatives, and discretionary funds such as Members of Parliament Local Area Development Division (MPLADS), Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALADS), and CSR allocations. This convergence-driven approach, while pragmatic in intent, lacks institutional clarity and long-term sustainability, raising doubts about the effectiveness of current strategies for restoring and preserving drying springs. While the policy shift marks a significant change from earlier frameworks that overlooked Himalayan region's unique hydrological and socio-environmental challenges, it still fails to deliver systemic transformation. The reliance on a uniform, one-size-fits-all policy across India's diverse ecological and topographic landscapes, particularly in the Himalayas, obstructs targeted, locally relevant, and sustainable solutions. Moving forward, policymakers must embrace a tailored, place-based strategy that recognises the ecological complexity, cultural nuances, and hydro-geological distinctiveness of the Himalayan region. This approach is critical for ensuring water security, enhancing long-term resilience, sustaining livelihoods, and maintaining geo-strategic stability in this ecologically fragile and strategically vital part of India. The success of programmes like the JJM depends not only on infrastructure development but also on the sustained availability of source water. In ecologically fragile and water-scarce Indian Himalayas, neglecting the rapid depletion of springs threatens to render water supply infrastructure ineffective, jeopardising efforts to achieve service delivery goals. Sharma is associate fellow, SaciWaters, Secunderabad and Khawas is professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In 50 years of statehood, Sikkim has emerged from being a small Himalayan outpost to a sustainable development leader
Written by Vimal Khawas and Rakhee Bhattacharya Fifty years ago, on May 16, 1975, Sikkim began its journey as the 22nd state of the Indian federation. Its merger with India was rooted in a complex interplay of internal dissent and India's larger geostrategic interests. Sikkim, with a population of just 0.7 million, accounts for a mere 0.05 per cent of India's population. Despite its small size, this Himalayan state has emerged as a model for sustainable development over the past 50 years, achieving remarkable economic prosperity, socio-political harmony, and environmental stewardship. With a per capita income of Rs 5.88 lakh in 2024, Sikkim ranks among India's top-performing states. From a modest agrarian economy in 1975, with a GSDP of Rs 50-100 crore, it has grown at a CAGR exceeding 13 per cent, driven by eco-friendly policies and consistent governance. Sikkim's focus on sustainable development has set it apart. By leveraging its indigenous and agrarian strengths, the state achieved economic self-sufficiency, boasting the highest per capita developmental expenditure in India. In 2016, Sikkim became the world's first 100 per cent organic state, a transformative initiative launched in 2003 to protect its fragile environment and promote healthy living. This milestone earned global recognition, including the UN Sustainable Development Leadership Award in 2016 and the UN FAO's Future Policy Gold Award in 2018. In 2024, Sikkim's eco-friendly programme, Mero Rukh, Mero Santati (My Tree, My Legacy), received the SKOCH Silver Award at COP 28, reinforcing its status as a global leader in sustainability. The state has invested in social infrastructure and its literacy rate has risen from 17 per cent in 1971 to over 90 per cent in 2025, supported by a free education policy up to the college level with a student-teacher ratio of less than 8:1, the best among Indian states. The healthcare system has likewise progressed significantly. With one doctor per 595 people in 2019, it is far higher than the national average. The Infant Mortality Rate in the state, at five deaths per 1,000 live births, is one of the lowest in the country and the Total Fertility Rate, at 1.1 children per woman, is also very low as compared to the national average, as of 2019-21. Sikkim has shown notable improvement in the 'quality of life' indicators over time. Household access to electricity (99.3 per cent) and sanitation facilities (85.3 per cent) is much better than the national average, but access to drinking water (94 per cent) is slightly below the national benchmark, as of 2021. The state continues to focus on social infrastructure and has the highest per capita social expenditure of Rs 35,673 among Indian states. The transformative Dhara Vikas Abhiyan, launched in 2008, exemplifies an innovative approach to sustainable life in the hilly terrain of Sikkim. This initiative combats water scarcity in drought-prone south and west Sikkim by reviving drying springs using hydrogeological techniques like contour trenches and percolation pits. Sikkim has significantly improved road connectivity, increasing road density from 12 km per 100 sq km in 1975 to 148 km in 2020, despite its challenging hilly terrain. Income poverty dropped from 30.9 per cent in 2004-05 to 2.6 per cent in 2023-24, driven by inclusive policies. Consequently, Sikkim's HDI rose from 0.55 in 1990 to 0.83 in 2024, ranking it second in India after Goa (0.85). Social empowerment has been systematically backed by political rights at the grassroots level. Sikkim has bagged six National Panchayat Awards in 2024 and the Sarojini Naidu Women Achievers' Award in 2023 for 14 women, highlighting its social progress. Sikkim was granted special status under Article 371F of the Indian Constitution during its merger with India in 1975, providing safeguards to preserve its unique traditional land, culture, and laws, including restrictions on property ownership by non-Sikkimese residents. It has helped the state not only preserve its traditions but also create a shared space among the communities, which consists of Nepalis, Bhutias, and Lepchas with a harmonious blend of cultures. Both Hinduism and Buddhism have shaped their vibrant culture and created social cohesion as a strong pillar for Sikkim's progressive journey, while maintaining its distinct identity. It is noteworthy that Sikkim is the only state that has never confronted any major community conflict or internal security threat. Fifty years of such progressive policies have made this small Himalayan state a bright spot in India. It is arguably the most progressive state in Northeast India. A pristine Himalayan state with rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, Sikkim has become a global and national tourism destination. From just 5,000 tourists in 1975, Sikkim welcomed 13.2 lakh visitors in 2024, a 260-fold increase. Contributing 8-10 per cent to the GSDP, tourism has increasingly become the most important parameter of Sikkim's economy. Being a fully organic state, Sikkim attracts environment and health-conscious travellers. Despite its achievements, Sikkim faces significant challenges. Natural disasters and climate change threaten the state, while its hilly terrain limits infrastructure and industrial growth. Social issues, such as increasing suicide rates and crimes against children, demand urgent attention. With 70 per cent of its revenue reliant on central funds, Sikkim must strengthen its financial independence. Prioritising equitable development over GDP is crucial to ensure inclusive progress in the state's development journey. The writers are professors, Special Centre for the Study of North East India, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
