Study on identification of perennial hill streams (Springs) with irrigation potential in 5 TSP districts of Odisha as a potential source of livelihood enhancement

Abstract

Springs are the lifeline for the people living in the hills and mountainous region. Springs directly support the partial or complete water needs of more than 15% of India's population. Besides, springs form the sources of many small and large rivers in India. Almost all non-Himalayan rivers and many Himalayan rivers originate from springs in the catchment areas. Many of these springs and their catchments have been revered through history either in the form of a symbolic temple or through the tribal legacy of ; sacred groves. The drying of springs has led to acute water shortages and great distress for populations in mountainous regions along with their livestock. The need to identify, conserve and protect the recharge areas of springs becomes important not just for local sustainability but also for the sustenance of our river systems. With this backdrop, the '1000 Springs Initiatives' by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and United Nations Development Programme has come as ray of hope which has demonstrated a localized innovative solution by harnessing the potential of perennial springs to meet the water needs of the remote tribal communities. Under this initiative, the present study made an attempt to map the perennial springs in the five Tribal Sub-Plan districts namely Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada and Sundargarh.