Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
CASE STUDY FROM INDIA
REVIVAL OF SPRINGS IN THE WATERSHED
OF GAGAS RIVER IN UTTARAKHAND
The Gagas river originates in the sacred forests of Pandukholi in
Almora district, of Kumaon Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand. The
river is largely defined through the flow of over fourteen major streams
or gadheras on both banks, and flows for about 50 km prior to merging
with Ramganga (West) river. The river basin is spread over 500 sq. km.,
supporting a population of over 120,000 in 370 villages.
Springs, or naulas as they are traditionally called, are the main
sources of water in the hills for the people. Overflow from these springs
also contributes to small streams which in turn join to form rivulets and
rivers. About 15 years ago, the ecological situation had worsened in many
parts of the Gagas river’s catchment, to the extent that the majority of
springs had either dried up completely or their flow was restricted flow
to only certain months of the year. It was then that the Ranikhet based
Pan Himalaya Grassroots Development Foundation forged a coalition of
interest between communities of 70 villages to form a “Gadhera Bachao
Samiti”. This body decided to plant native trees in their catchment –
approximately 1000 hectares. They raised over 1 million saplings of over
twenty native species of trees and shrubs in small village nurseries and
planted them in the catchment. Simultaneously, they undertook locally
appropriate soil conservation measures by digging small trenches or
ponds across the gradient of the slope. These are locally called nals and
khals. This improved the moisture regime in the plantation areas as well
as infiltration. As the trees started to come up, many springs started
to flow around the year, and the overall water situation in the Gadhera
improved tremendously.
79