Assam Government Identifies 36 Springs in Hills for Rejuvenation

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has taken initiatives for springshed management and identified 36 springs in the three hill districts – Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao.

According to official sources, springshed management is crucial for ensuring a sustainable water supply, particularly in areas where springs are the primary sources of water. Already the Brahmaputra Board, Niti Aayog, Central Ground Water Board, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, etc., have initiated various activities on springshed management in the northeastern region, especially in the hill areas.

Sources further said that to achieve the overcharging goal of ensuring water supply to each household in the hilly districts, springshed management programmes have become the need of the hour. This has led the state government to lay stress on it, and it has already prepared a five-year action plan so as to restore the old system of collecting water from the natural springs. This has become a necessity, as laying water-carrying pipelines in hilly terrains is not an easy task.

A retired officer of the Department of Soil Conservation said, “Even now, there are remote hilly terrains in Assam where people collect water from springs. However, due to climate change and other factors, like human activities, have their cascading effects on such springs that dry up. The emphasis that the government is laying on it is the need of the hour.”

According to sources, the way to identify a springshed is mapping and demarcating the area that contributes groundwater to the spring, often using techniques like dye tracing. To rejuvenate a spring, the first step would be to ensure that natural recharge points of the spring are protected and no construction work is allowed in the area, sources said.

According to department sources, it has identified 36 springs as of now in the three hill districts. The number of springs will go up through the identification of more springs in phases.

Also read: Assam: NEHARI Brahmaputra Board conducts workshop on springshed management

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