Experience sharing workshop on reviving Himalayan springs

Climate Change Adaptation - North East Region programme (CCA-NER), in cooperation with the Rural Management & Development Department (RMDD), Government of Sikkim, has organised a workshop for government officials from Bhutan and officials from Meghalaya and Nagaland to facilitate sharing of experiences and update on strategies on reviving Himalayan springs.

The workshop is being held from July 1-6, at Gangtok, Sikkim, on request of the Government of Bhutan. Officials from Meghalaya and Nagaland are participating to ensure learning across CCA-NER partner states and to enable the partners to take up springshed management in their respective states. The workshop incorporates knowledge and lessons learnt from RMDD Sikkim and the technical interventions facilitated by the CCA-NER project: trainings of RMDD officials on hydro-geology, preparation of participatory village water security plans (VWSP), technical feasibility studies, cost estimations as well as a handbook for springshed development (Dhara Vikas), etc.

Sustainability of the CCA-NER interventions is ensured through strategic capacity building for the RMDD staff for both hydrogeological assessments and participatory processes for developing village water security plans. Hence, with a cadre of field personnel and a vulnerability assessment done at block level, the Government of Sikkim is equipped to upscale targeted soil water conservation works, as well as development and implementation of VWSP in the most vulnerable villages for achieving rural water security.