Workshop On “Recharge Process of Springs and Its Management to Mitigate Anthropogenic and Climate Change Impact for Water Security: A case study in part of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India” During January 21-22, 2020 Organised By GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUA&T) Pantnagar-263145, Distt. - Udham Singh Nagar Uttarakhand State www.gbpuat.ac.in in association with Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India www.bhu.ac.in WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIA http://westernsydney.edu.au THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, Australia http://unimelb.edu.au ABOUT THE PANT NAGAR UNIVERSITY G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUA&T) is the first agricultural university of India. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation stone on 17th November 1960 as the Uttar Pradesh Agricultural University (UPAU). Later the name was changed to Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in 1972 in memory of the great freedom fighter Govind Ballabh Pant. The University lies in the campus-town of Pantnagar in the district of Udham Singh Nagar in the state of Uttarakhand. The university is regarded as the harbinger of Green Revolution in India. College of Technology is one of the constituent colleges of the University. The G.B. Pant University is a symbol of successful partnership between India and the United States. The university campus is located at a distance of 250 km from Delhi in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. The nearby towns are Rudrapur (16 km), Haldwani (25 km) and Nainital (65 km). Two National Highways- NH 87 and Bareilly-Nainital highway touch the campus. Two railway stations of North Eastern Railways- Pantnagar (PBW) and Haldi Road (HLDD) are located in the campus at a distance of 4 km (east) and 2 km (west) respectively from administrative building. University shuttle service, local cycle /e- rickshaws, auto rickshaws and matador vans connect various parts of the campus. The winter weather is cool at Pantnagar during January and stay will be very much enjoyable in this location, which is rich in flora and fauna. COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY The College of Technology one of the constituent colleges of the University was established in 1966. Its ten departments offer eight B. Tech Degree Programs namely Agriculture, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electronics & Communication, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial & Production Engineering. In addition to it, the College offers 24 post graduate programs including a self financed MCA program. The College of Technology, an ISO 9001:2000 certified institution, is privileged to have a well qualified and experienced faculty with judicious mix of creative, talented and committed academicians. All the programs of study are approved by AICTE and accredited by the National Board of Accreditation. The College is the lead institute in Uttarakhand in the World Bank project for Technical Education Quality Improvement Programmme (TEQIP-III). The college is proud of its infrastructural facilities befitting to modern technological needs. HOW TO REACH Pantnagar is about 250 kilometers from Delhi, 360 kilometers from Lucknow, 90 kilometers from Moradabad, 75 kilometers from Bareilly and 65 kilometers from Nainital by road. It is connected to the rest of world by the Delhi Nainital National Highway and the Bareilly Nainital Highway. A large number of state and interstate buses fly on these roads. Two railway stations of North Eastern Railways- PANTNAGAR (PBW) and HALDI ROAD (HLDD) are located in the campus at a distance of 4 kms (east) and 2 kms (west) respectively from administrative building. Further, LAL KUAN (LKU) is the nearby junction situated at a distance of 8 kms form the campus. www.irctc.co.in / www.indianrail.gov.in Government Airline http://www.airindia.in/ AI 9815; DELHI (DEL) 11.30 Hrs (Dep)- PANTNAGAR (PGH)12.30 Hrs (Only on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) AI 9816; PANTNAGAR (PGH)15.10 Hrs(Dep)-DELHI (DEL)16.10 Hrs (Only on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) DELHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT to NEW DELHI / DELHI RAILWAY STATION http://www.delhimetrorail.com/Airport-Express-Timing-Fare.aspx or App based taxies like www.uber.com or www.ola.com or Prepaid taxi counter of DELHI POLICE. Further, many state transport buses are available from DELHI ANAND VIHAR ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminus) to RUDRAPUR (nearest place around 5 to 6 hrs journey). More details visit: http://utconline.uk.gov.in/ Places of interest: Nainital, Binsar, Sattal, Bhimtal, Ranikhet, Almora, Bhowali, Poornagiri, Nanakmatta and Jim Corbett Park are nearby places of interest in the Kumaun region. For more details www.kmvn.gov.in or www.uttarakhandtourism.gov.in BACKGROUND OF SPARC PROJECT Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) sponsored by Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian institutions and the best institutions in the world from 28 selected nations to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance. Ground water contributes to nearly 65 per cent of total irrigated area of the country and nearly 85 per cent of the rural drinking water supply. The limited ground water resources in the country are under threat due to the increasing demands of growing population, urbanisation and industrialisation Govt. of India has recently launched ambitious Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) which has been designed with the principal objective of strengthening the institutional framework for participatory groundwater management and bringing about behavioural changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management Springs are the primary source of water for fulfilling requirements related to drinking, household activities and irrigation in many households in the Indian Himalayan region. The profound dependence of hill communities on springs makes their conservation and rejuvenation a basic facet of water security. In addition, springs have always served as an integral part of the hill eco system. There is an increasing evidence that springs are drying up or their discharges are dwindling throughout the Indian Himalayan Region and in particular Kumaun region of Uttarakhand due to ecological degradation associated with land-use and land cover changes and other anthropogenic activities, such as over exploitation of surface and underground water including factors like deforestation, erratic trends in precipitation, marked decline in winter rains and forest fires have severely affected spring discharge. Further, an impact of climate change is expected to exasperate the current situation. These changes are increasingly threatening the livelihood options of the rural population and the riparian vegetation affecting the Himalayan biodiversity and ecosystem as a whole. Hence, the need for this study OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT To identify and prepare an inventory of the springs To explore indigenous knowledge about springs through key informant interviews of local stakeholders in the study area; To carryout isotopic and chemical characterization of selected springs and to identify recharge sources and zones of springs using environmental isotopes. To carryout hydrologic analysis including determination of residence /travel time of recharged water. To develop and implement priority-based sustainable water management plan with involvement of local community using appropriate recharge and water storage structures awareness program and capacity building.. SCOPE OF WORKSHOP Springs are groundwater discharge points that appear where a water bearing layer (aquifer) intersects with the ground surface and water seeps out of rock pores, fissures, fractures, or depressions. Springs are the main source of water for millions of people in the mid hills of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH). Both rural and urban communities depend on springs to meet their drinking, domestic, and agricultural water needs. In addition, springs play an important role in providing water for ecosystem services, such as base flow in rivers, while supporting vegetation and wildlife. Springs in the Kumauni region of Uttarakhand also have religious and cultural significance. Due to land use changes, population increase and now with looming climate change in the hilly region, the springs are drying up and therefore the existence of springs is under threat and will impact severely on the livelihood of people and water security of the Himalayan region. The springs are connected with water security in many communities, as they are the main source of drinking water for mountainous rural areas. The Managing Aquifer Recharge and Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention (MARVI) project approach implemented in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat states will be discussed during the workshop, which include Engage farmers, local communities, government agencies and policy makers; Understand hydrologic, social, economic, governance and livelihood aspects that connect with ground water spring management, including recharge enhancement and water use restraints; and Empower users/farmers to self-manage springs sustainably at the village and Gram Panchayat levels The SPARC workshop focuses on understanding the recharging processes of springs in the Himalayan region and their management from a range of perspectives (hydrologic, social, economic and cultural)