An Integrated Study of Natural Springs to sustain water security:Case Study of three villages from a Himalayan State of India

Abstract

Equitable access to water, whether it isquantity orquality, is one of the fundamental rights. It facilitates economic development,gender equality and good human health. But in the last few decades, lack ofpotable water has causedillness and resulting millions of deaths. In Himalayan Region, springs are the basic water sourcewhich fulfills the needs ofrural population.The point at which the groundwater emerges over the earth surface and flows naturally is called spring.Drying up of these springs, due to climate change and biophysical landscape change, isnot only causing problem to human health, impeding gender equality but also causingnearby bio diversityto lose resilience. Therefore, a basic understanding of springs is required for its further studiesand to maintain water security. This present work is focused on the initial steps of Spring Sanctuary development. The present outline emphasized on the spring mappingand has prepareda social database of springs of three villages of Saurakhaal nyay panchayat of jakholi block, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand.The status of the springs has been assessed by monitoring their discharge data for eight months(Nov, 2020-June, 2021).Also,the endangered and vulnerable springs of the study area has been identified by scoring them on the basis of critical issues.