U’khand’s natural sources drying up amid impending water crisis

Bageshwar: The hills of Uttarakhand are staring at a deepening water crisis as hundreds of natural springs and traditional sources inch towards extinction, raising alarm over the state's fragile mountain ecology. Officials from Jal Sansthan in Bageshwar and Almora districts said several water sources were on the verge of drying up, while many others recorded a sharp decline in discharge – up to 81% in some cases.A recent data shared by state's Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARRA) revealed that rivers, gadheras (seasonal streams), naulas and dharas — once lifelines of the region — are now struggling to survive. The crisis is being driven by climate change, erratic weather cycles and unplanned development, which have steadily eroded groundwater reserves, officials said. Despite the gravity of the situation, awareness among the general population remained limited."Nearly 70% of the hill population depends on springs and streams for drinking water supply schemes. In Bageshwar, several major drinking water schemes rely on these sources. But with reduced rainfall during winters, discharge drops sharply in summer, prompting alternative arrangements during this period," said DS Bisht, executive engineer of Jal Sansthan in Bageshwar.While officials at SARRA have identified vulnerable sources and prepared revival plans, with a focus on traditional water systems such as naulas and dharas, a grassroots movement is also taking shape across the hills.In Almora's Chaukhutiya, Shankar Singh Bisht has restored over a dozen springs by planting trees for years. Bisht, along with local women in Jhumakhet of Chamoli's Khansar Valley, built chal-khal – traditional rainwater harvesting structures – that helped recharge nearby sources and provided water for wildlife. "Women's participation is the biggest strength in conserving natural resources and securing the Himalayan future," he said.In Bageshwar's Sirkot village, 60-year-old Jagdish Kuniyal turned around the nearly defunct Sim gadhera stream by planting native broadleaf species such as oak and deodar and constructing recharge pits for eight years. The stream now flows year-round, supporting two drinking water schemes. "Protect forests and trees, and there will never be a shortage of water," Kuniyal said.Kishan Singh Malra, known as the Vriksh Purush (tree man) of Bageshwar, revived three dying sources in Mandalsera – Dugad gadhera, Naula gadhera and a natural naula – over 12 years, benefiting its residents.Environmentalists have warned that over 4,000 water sources across Uttarakhand remain under threat and cautioned that without urgent measures, the state could face a full-blown water crisis that could prove irreversible.