Experts and policymakers have called for urgent scientific and institutional collaboration to address declining spring discharges and rising rural water insecurity across Arunachal Pradesh. The consensus emerged during a high-level stakeholders’ consultation meeting organized by the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE) and the Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG), supported by the HCL Foundation.
Speakers warned that climate variability, rapid deforestation, changing land-use patterns, and unsustainable development are severely threatening the state’s mountain ecosystems. Because remote Himalayan communities rely heavily on these natural water sources, protecting them is deemed vital for both ecological sustainability and rural livelihoods.
During the technical sessions, the Water Resources Department revealed that an ongoing inventory has already identified 184 vulnerable springs across 25 districts. Meanwhile, the Soil & Water Conservation Department is actively executing seven springshed management projects. However, state agencies highlighted critical operational bottlenecks, including mismatched discharge data, a lack of standardized monitoring protocols, difficult terrain, and an acute shortage of trained hydrogeological manpower. Rising tourism in districts like Tawang and West Kameng is further straining local water tables.
To counter these challenges, the consultation recommended establishing a unified, multi-institutional coordination platform. Key proposals include creating a shared state-level spring database, setting up standardized monitoring protocols, and scaling up community-based capacity building.
The forum concluded that springshed management is no longer just an environmental issue; it is a critical developmental priority directly linked to the water security, food security, and climate resilience of Arunachal Pradesh.
