A study on Uttarakhand’s water conservation policies

Water conservation is a major concern in Uttarakhand, a state blessed with three natural water resources but which is now being impacted by climate change, deforestation, and rising water needs. In response to these issues, the government has taken a number of steps to implement policies and initiatives focused on sustainable water management. With an act on water management & regulation, it sets up a formal legal framework around water governance, including efforts like the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARA) and Spring Shed Management Program, to scientifically and community-driven approaches to restoring natural water sources. Moreover, traditional conservation methods like repairing Naulas and natural underground water tanks significantly contribute to augmenting water availability in the hilly terrains. Through afforestation and soil conservation initiatives, the Catchment Area Conservation and Management Plan (CACMP) helps protect these water sources sustainably. In this manuscript, these policies and their effectiveness in promoting water conservation in Uttarakhand have been analyzed. It’s also a reminder of the difficulties of enforcing them, including governance issues, climate-induced water stress, and community involvement. The findings of the study suggested that although a lot has been done on water conservation in the state, a more integrated and comprehensive approach with both traditional knowledge and modern techniques as weaves has to be taken up in order to achieve long-term water sustainability.