The Fading Springs of the Himalayas: Reality Check and Insights in the Alaknanda Basin

Abstract

This study examines water resource management challenges associated with declining Himalayan springs in the Alaknanda Basin of Uttarakhand, with attention to physical, socio-economic, ecological and governance dimensions of water scarcity. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining a structured household survey with secondary evidence from published literature and institutional documents. Primary data were collected from 100 respondents across four altitudinally differentiated sites: Badrinath in Chamoli District (3,100 m), Chamba in Tehri Garhwal District (1,600 m), Tilwara in Rudraprayag District (750 m) and Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal District (560 m). The findings show continuing dependence on natural springs (Dhara), which were reported as the main household water source by 42% of respondents, followed by gravity-fed pipelines (20%) and rivers or tributaries (19%). Rainwater harvesting was reported by only 6% of respondents, indicating limited household-level adoption of alternative water conservation practices. Perceived change in water availability was predominantly negative: 68% of respondents reported deterioration, including 46% who described the situation as much worse. Cross-tabulation by occupation indicates that agriculture-dependent respondents experienced the most severe decline in water availability, with 25 of 45 agricultural respondents reporting conditions as much worse. The principal challenges identified by respondents were drying natural springs (22 respondents), climate change (16), damaged infrastructure (13) and poor maintenance (11). The results suggest that current management practices and governance infrastructure are insufficient for addressing water scarcity across the surveyed sites. The study highlights the need for spring rejuvenation, climate-resilient storage, improved infrastructure maintenance, strengthened local governance, water-quality monitoring and more systematic adoption of rainwater harvesting within a basin-level management framework.