Over the last decade, demand for spring management has increased as traditional spring sources have started drying up or becoming contaminated. In response, communities, NGOs and state agencies began dedicated spring protection programmes. In the Himalayas, the State of Sikkim and organizations such as Central Himalayan Action and Research Group (CHIRAG) and People Science Institute (PSI) started identifying and protecting spring recharge areas around 2007. The difference between these programmes and many other previous efforts is that they went beyond supply-side improvements to focus on the use of hydrogeology to map springsheds for targeted interventions. The Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM), a research and capacity-building organization comprised of hydrogeologists and other experts began lending their expertise and building capacity of stakeholders. ACWADAM provides technical support, training and materials in hydrogeology to all network partners as well as others in India and the region. Similar programmes began independently in most of the mountain regions of India. Arghyam, a funding organization that was supporting many of these programmes, noticed that these disparate initiatives shared commonalities despite geographic diversity. They thus organized and funded a meeting of these various organizations in June 2014, and the Springs Initiative was born. The springs initiative aims to tackle the current water crisis and to ensure safe and sustainable access to water for all, by promoting responsible and appropriate management of aquifers, springsheds, and watersheds and conserving ecosystems in partnership with communities, governments and other stakeholders. This presentation has been developed as a part of the springs initiative to promote an understanding of springs and their role in mountainous areas.

1. Inception-cum- training on springs in Meghalaya
21st Jan-25th Jan,2020
Community Mobilisation and Institutional
Framework including monitoring mechanisms
PRASARI
Contributors

2. A fragile ecosystem
adversely impacted
by development
Over 1 billion springs, rapidly drying out
Water Security
- Springs are the sole source of water for tribal
communities
- Current HH water availability is less than 1/6th of
recommended WHO limit
The Challenge

3. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of developement
District &
Block Level
meeting
1

4. District and Sub-division level meeting
We generally conduct meeting at district level with responsible
persons followed by block level meeting
1
District level meeting held at Darjeeling
Fig: Block level meeting held at Kalimpong-I Block

5. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of developement
District &
Block Level
meeting
2
1
Dharasevak is
Born

6. Selection-(A dharasevak is born)
▪ GP selects the
village volunteers
based on the
volunteerism
evidences
Action
The first representation from the
spring/ community ensured
Expected
(Results)
G.P
Community
Dharasevak
▪ Blocks finally
..shortlist them
▪ One dharasevak
per Spring or two
….Springs

7. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of developement
District &
Block Level
meeting
2
1
Dharasevak is
Born
3
Dharasevak learns the
theories of springs and
learns to look at it
scientifically

8. • Recharge activities and options
Dharasevak learns the theories of springs and learns to look at it scientifically
Action
• Residential
training of
Dharasevaks
▪ Practicing hydro-geological
mapping
▪ Understanding spring typologies and
..recharge areas
• Equipped to work in the field
independently
Expected
(Results)
• Starts interactions with the spring
dependents and the people in the
catchment & initiate the dialogues on
SPRINGSHED COMMITTESS
• creates platforms for the sensitization
camps
FIG: DAY:03 About recharge activities &
option
FIG: DAY:01 Practicing hydro-geological mapping
FIG: DAY:02 Understanding of spring typologies and recharge ares

9. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of developement
District &
Block Level
meeting
2
1
Dharasevak is
Born
3
Dharasevak learns the
theories of springs and
learns to look at it
scientifically
Community
level
Meeting
4

10. Action
• Interact with the GP for mass
sensitization
Camps are arranged in partnership with the GP
and the Blocks
Spring shed work related movies are
displayed in the GP camps
Maximum possible experts and
decision makers are engaged
Discussion on gravity of problems of actual
field basis
Expected
(Results)
Community Meeting
Community meeting at Samsing G.P. under Gorubathan Block

11. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of developement
District &
Block Level
meeting
1
Dharasevak is
Born
3
Dharasevak learns the
theories of springs and
learns to look at it
scientifically
Community
level
Meeting
4
2
Pegging In-
Transect Walk

12. Pegging in
Action
• Discussion at the village level with the Spring shed committee and the
dependents
• visiting the springs jointly & Spotting the outlet with lat long
• Detecting the typology of spring & Measuring the discharge
• Transacts for understanding hydrogeology & Preparing Hydrogeological
map
• Finding out the recharge area & marking the zone at Google earth pro
and saved as image
• Discussions on the feasible recharge options
• Convincing the land owners for adopting in-situ recharge and
excavation work & Planning the livelihoods activities at the catchment
and command area of the spring

13. Transect walk
Transacts for understanding hydrogeology & Preparing
hydrogeological map
Finding out the recharge area & marking the zone at Google earth
pro and saved as image

14. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of development
District &
Block Level
meeting
1
Dharasevak is
Born
3
Dharasevak learns the
theories of springs and
learns to look at it
scientifically
Community
level
Meeting
4
2
Pegging In-
Transect Walk
5
Do mapping
6

15. Do Mapping
3d map of the Springshed area
3D map of a Dhara from Kalimpong-I dev block

16. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of development
District &
Block Level
meeting
1
Dharasevak is
Born
3
Dharasevak learns the
theories of springs and
learns to look at it
scientifically
Community
level
Meeting
4
2
Pegging In-
Transect Walk
5
Do mapping
6
7
Input from Block
technical wings

17. Input from Block Technical Wings
They will investigate each spring cross section with google earth and
prepared estimate and put this summary on www.spring-mangement.info
Technical Cell, Kalimpong-I Dev. Block
A snap from the Executor log-in page, where Block STP/TA upload the summary of estimate

18. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of development
District &
Block Level
meeting
1
Dharasevak is
Born
3
Dharasevak learns the
theories of springs and
learns to look at it
scientifically
Community
level
Meeting
4
2
Pegging In-
Transect Walk
5
Do mapping
6
7
Input from Block
technical wings
Fruit start harvesting
8

19. Fruit harvesting
The activities are implemented in the field as per the DPR &
Dharasevaks are the supervisors for the activities
Action
Expected (Results)
Recharge and base work for livelihoods done

20. Activities at Recharge Area
Recharge Pit
Earthen Bunding
Staggered Trenches
Vetiver at bunding

21. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of development
District &
Block Level
meeting
1
Dharasevak is
Born
3
Dharasevak learns the
theories of springs and
learns to look at it
scientifically
Community
level
Meeting
4
2
Pegging In-
Transect Walk
5
Do mapping
6
7
Input from Block
technical wings
Fruit start harvesting
8
Impact a continuous
process!
9

22. Impact a continuous process!
Fortnightly discharge pre and post treatments in the springs
for three years
Action
Rainfall data collection where possible
Soil sample collection
Water samples for quality parameters pre-post treatments for three years
Expected (Results)
Water security for community & directly impact to generate livelihood
Software output Hydrographs for each spring-comparing pre-posts
Variations in discharges with variation in rainfall-auto
analyzed
Changes in water quality parameters/fecal Coliform

23. Methodology Adopted
➢ Through EkStep (Available on Google Play Store)
1. Spring Typology
2. Rock Mapping
3. Mapping process through Google Earth
4. Spring Discharge measurement
5. Recharge Structures
➢ Through Forwater App(Available on Google Play Store)
Digital Platform for Capacity Building
Our already Published module

24. Web Based: Data collection & Monitoring
Digitally enrolled and Mentoring the work activities of
Springshed Management

25. Technical
assistance to
formulate DPR
and
monitoring
Technical
assistance and
approval of
DPR
Technical
assistance to
‘Dharasevak’ for
community
mobilization
and data
collection
through survey,
formulation of
DPR and
implementation
State level ‘WhatsApp’ group as
a monitoring tool

26. M & E.. Impacts
(Discharge-rainfall graph)
(total nos. of households under
incremental water security)
(Agriculture use, jhora
fishery, horticulture)
(Convergences with Departments)
12000 households having 92% of the tribal dominations
Excess spring water usuage in paddy field in kasyone GP, Kalimpong-II block
Spring Water usage in vegetables in winter period

27. JHARNADHARA(Springshed Management):
Quality Testing

28. Spring Rejuvenation Process
We called it 9 steps of development
District &
Block Level
meeting
1
Dharasevak is
Born
3
Dharasevak learns the
theories of springs and
learns to look at it
scientifically
Community
level
Meeting
4
2
Pegging In-
Transit Work
5
Do mapping
6
7
Input from Block
technical wings
Fruit start harvesting
8
Impact a continuous
process!
9
Towards

30. KOBO FOR SPRING DATA
Can show GPS maps,
Photo gallery, and data
tables at one go
Can collect Data online
and offline from the
field
Can share project with
collaborators
Automatically generate
reports to reflect on
real time

31. Water User Association
S u n a h a r i W U A , Lolay G.P, kalimpong-II block Ka m j e r - I W UA , Kasyone G.P, kalimpong-II block
Mangal Yuwa Sangh WUA, Lolay G.P, kalimpong-II block
D u n g t a m W U A , Kasyone G.P, kalimpong-II block
• I t ’ s a c o m m u n i t y p l a t f o r m
c o n s i s t o f r e c h a r g e a r e a
& c o m m a n d a r e a o f a
p a r t i c u l a r s p r i n g .
• I t ’ s a r e g i s t e r e d s o c i e t y
u n d e r w e s t B e n g a l
S o c i e t i e s r e g i s t r a t i o n
a c t , 1 9 6 1 .
• A v e r a g e m e m b e r i n t h i s
g r o u p a r e 2 0 - 3 0 p e r s o n s

32. Rejuvenation
Programme
Command Area
Management
Our work with WUA
Command Area of Katleni dhara, Lolay G.P., Kalimpong-II block
Storage tank for MI irrigation Avacodo Plantation in command area
S p r i n g s h e d R e c h a r g e A c t i v i t i e s

33. Rejuvenation
Programme
Command Area
Management
Our work with WUA
Spring
Identification
Resource
Mapping
Community person narrated the resource map, in garubathan block, kalimpong

34. Rejuvenation
Programme
Command Area
Management
Our work with WUA
Spring
Identification
Resource
Mapping
Mapping
Resource Use
Mapping

35. Rejuvenation
Programme
Command Area
Management
Our work with WUA
Spring
Identification
Resource
Mapping
Mapping
Resource Use
Mapping
Recharge Zone
Seasonal Plan
of the resource

36. Rejuvenation
Programme
Command Area
Management
Our work with WUA
Spring
Identification
Resource
Mapping
Mapping
Resource Use
Mapping
Recharge Zone
Seasonal Plan
of the resource
Activities
Shimsar dhara WUA,Garubathan Block
Financially & Technically support goes to community

37. Rejuvenation
Programme
Command Area
Management
Our work with WUA
Spring
Identification
Resource
Mapping
Mapping
Resource Use
Mapping
Recharge Zone
Seasonal Plan
of the resource
Activities
SDMP(Scheme Dev. Management Plan through
online/offline) preparation

38. P&RDD has piloted with 630 springs…..
Roughly we have 1 billion springs in the Himalayas

39. THANK YOU
We have 1 billion springs to go…
“Sukey bhanay humilai nikkai
kashta huncha, yo dhara humro
jivandhara ho, elai bachayra
rakhnu parcha..”
(We have suffered a lot from
last few years as it gets dry in
the dry spell, this is our
lifeline…we need to conserve
the spring)-uttered by
Sanghmaya Lama, villager of
Sakeyong G.P, Kalimpong

40. Thanking You
PRASARI
PRASARI
Contributors