• Dharm Singh Meena

Springs and streams play an important role in sustaining Himalayan ecosystem. Most of the population residing in the Himalaya are dependent on these springs and streams for drinking, irrigation and other domestic purposes. Major rivers flowing from the Himalayas depends a lot on springs and streams and are spring fed. In an attempt to save and protect springs and streams, the project aims to build a climate resilient community by providing them access to water in all seasons of the year. Heval river rejuvenation programme is a step towards a resourceful and a resilient community. Heval River is one of the tributaries of river Ganga which originates as name of Khuret gad near Surkanda Devi temple at an altitude of over 2690m above the msl in Narendranagar Forest Division in district Tehri Garhwal. It is the main river of the district Tehri Garhwal and is spring fed. The local community are dependent on the source for drinking water purposes and for agricultural uses. There is a huge threat on the sustainability of the river due to the ongoing construction activities around the springs. The feeding springs and streams are drying up due to climate change and other anthropogenic activity in the recharge areas. To contribute towards enhancing the adaptive capacities and climate resilience of local and vulnerable communities, the we took up the initiate to revive the river (Heval) and targeted 16000 hectares of Heval sub-watershed including 66 springsheds and 17 streams. Baseline surveys and feasibility analysis was conducted in the preliminary phase of the project which was followed by detailed hydrogeological implementation seeking the advice of subject experts.

Springs, Himalaya, Recharge area, Climate resilience, Hydrogeology

"Community participatory approach to revive and restore springs and streams in the Indian Himalaya", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 12, page no.f304-f311, December-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2112539.pdf

"Community participatory approach to revive and restore springs and streams in the Indian Himalaya", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 12, page no. ppf304-f311, December-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2112539.pdf