Managing Water Security for Himalayan Communities

TERI organized a side event to DSDS 2014 titled, 'Managing Water Security for Himalayan Communities' on 7 February 2014, at Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi. Water security is a keystone for the sustainable development of society. Increasing populations require more water for drinking, sanitation, and generation of food. A growing economy requires energy, whose production also relies on access to water. Himalayas represent a unique set of topography distinct from the lowland areas. Undulating nature of land, low-lying location of major streams, thin soil cover, rocky terrain and lack of significant groundwater availability dominate the hydrological perspectives in the Himalayan states. Most of the water available for the hill areas is through rainfall, snowfall and springs originating from the local catchments. In such a scenario, effective management of our water resources is the necessity to ensure water Security for mountain communities.