This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
The Rural Management and Development Department (RMDD) of Sikkim has successfully revived several springs and lakes under its Dhara Vikas Initiative, ensuring water security for rural households. Sikkim’s successful method is one that other states in India and neighboring countries facing water shortage are exploring and attempting to replicate.
1 min Read
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organized a filed excursion for 15 Bhutanese representatives to spring revival sites in Sikkim from 7 to 9 November 2017. The excursion was organized in collaboration with RMDD.
The group visited several spring revival sites to see firsthand how spring revival work is being implemented. They travelled to three sites in south Sikkim; in Perbing, they learned about hydrogeology, rock structure, and ways to identify recharge areas for constructing recharge structures. In Omchu, they saw how various recharge structures are constructed, and in Chamchey, they saw the rejuvenated Dolling Lake.
The spring revival programme is about spending most working hours in the field, studying rock structures, soil properties, and the overall landscape. Recharge areas are built only after considering these factors.
Close to 90% of the Sikkimese population depends on spring water. In addition to ensuring constant water supply, the Dhara Vikas Initiative, which started in 2008, has successfully turned erstwhile rain-fed areas into fresh vegetable belts where communities are able to grow and sell farm produce.
Bhutan is facing the same problem that Sikkim faced a decade ago, especially in its eastern parts. Hill top lakes, which are usually located above villages, are drying up, taking a toll on the communities that rely on them. During the field excursion, the visiting Bhutanese delegation members expressed eagerness to replicate Sikkim’s spring revival method in their own communities. They were particularly hopeful of the method being successful in Bhutan as Sikkim and Bhutan share similar geographical features.
The three field excursions were followed by a knowledge sharing workshop in Thimphu, Bhutan on November 15.
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
related content
Eighty-plus policy maker and journalist participants from Afghanistan China, India and Pakistan, were present as Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan, ...
Discussions on the preliminary findings of a recent socio-economic survey conducted on 1,600 households in 11 districts around the Koshi ...
The perpetuation of gender roles is a repetitive, systematic, and recurring behaviour. It perpetuates within the social structure by defining ...
Part I: Kabani, Bagan On 26 March 2015, Thursday, an ICIMOD team comprising REDD+ Initiative Coordinator Bhaskar Karky and Communications Specialist ...
Officials from Dapcha Kashikhanda Municipality in Kavre District have integrated the construction of recharge ponds into next year’s ward and ...
The Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI) is a transboundary initiative which covers an area of 25,085.8 square kilometres, ...
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) was profiled by TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of ...
ICIMOD took another step in improving the quality of hydrometeorological data collection that will contribute to reducing flood vulnerabilities in ...