Researchers, government officials and civil society groups convened in Siliguri on Saturday to call for a national policy framework to protect the natural springs that supply water to millions in the Himalayas. The multi‑stakeholder dialogue, organized by SaciWATERs with Heinrich Böll Stiftung, drew 42 participants from 25 organisations, including public health engineers, municipal and forest officials, researchers, media and tourism practitioners.
Dr Kabindra Sharma, a Fellow at SaciWATERs, warned that piped delivery alone cannot secure water supplies. He cited a 2018 NITI Aayog assessment showing that nearly 30 % of springs in the Indian Himalayan Region had dried up and about 50 % had reduced discharge. The meeting participants noted that springs sustain the livelihoods of an estimated 50 million people, supporting drinking water, agriculture and tourism, and underpinning the resilience of mountain communities.
Key recommendations called for a coherent national policy to govern springs and their recharge areas, clear institutional responsibilities, stronger inter‑departmental coordination, dedicated financing, and integration of springshed management into existing water programmes. The dialogue also urged recognition of community‑led conservation and Indigenous knowledge in planning and implementing spring protection measures.
A follow‑up policy dialogue is scheduled for October 8, where elected representatives and senior policymakers will examine the recommendations. Participants stressed that long‑term water security in the Eastern Himalayas will depend on protecting springs and landscapes, not merely on pipes and infrastructure alone.
