It is not glaciers solely that sustain rivers originating in the Himalayas. As per the findings of a 2018 report released by NITI Aayog, glacier-fed springs make up about 50 percent of springs in the Himalayan region and out of India’s 5 million springs, it is estimated that around 3 million springs are found in the Himalayan region.
Who are the people affected?
Springs are a source of water for 50 million people in 12 states of India living in around 60,000 villages. As elaborated in a report, while only 29 percent of the water flowing in Ganga till Moradabad is glacier water, the remaining part comes from springs.
Importance of Springs
According to the report, since springs are said to be drying up, the researchers attributed the reason for the drying up of springs to the changes in land use, environmental degradation, and other developmental activities. In Almora, over 150 years, the number of springs went down from 360 to 60 and the report says the water crisis in Shimla and other hill towns stems from drying springs.
What solutions are available?
Learnings from Sikkim’s Dhara Vikas springshed program have been shared widely. In a conference held in Siliguri in October 2026, experts mentioned the need for an overarching Indian policy to protect springs and recharge sites.
Read more Environmental Changes:
How Do Communities Fight Drought?
Meet the volunteers in Hungary building their own dams.
Is healthy soil running out?
See why soil degradation threatens food supplies.
Is Kerala’s Hill District Warming?
See why Wayanad is losing its chill.
Which cities face climate risk in 2026?
Check the urban areas under immediate environmental threat.
Will Countries Hit Food Goals?
Find out why most may miss 2030 targets.
