Sustainability Challenges to Springshed Water Management in India and Bangladesh: A Bird’s Eye View

Sara Nowreen (), Anil Kumar Misra, Rashed Uz Zzaman, Lalit Pokhrel Sharma and Md. Sadaf Abdullah
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Sara Nowreen: Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka P.O. Box 1000, Bangladesh
Anil Kumar Misra: Department of Geology, Sikkim University, Gangtok 737102, Sikkim, India
Rashed Uz Zzaman: Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka P.O. Box 1000, Bangladesh
Lalit Pokhrel Sharma: Department of Geology, Sikkim University, Gangtok 737102, Sikkim, India
Md. Sadaf Abdullah: Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka P.O. Box 1000, Bangladesh

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Springshed management across mountainous states, such as India and Nepal, has paved the way for the groundwater recharge process. In contrast, despite introducing several interventions, the Bangladeshi government has never been officially exposed to such sustainable ideas for a spring revival. Therefore, this study aims to diagnose water security for the Himalayan region by applying an environmental security framework. Community perceptions documented through focus group discussions and key informant interviews, as well as water sample testing, helped highlight the existing issues of water scarcity, accessibility, quality, and governance structure. Exemplifying the condition of Bandarban in Bangladesh, notable gaps were found in spring-related scientific understanding. Specifically, the lack of adequate reservoirs, institutional coordination, water supply, utility maintenance, and accessibility hurdles were identified as areas requiring immediate attention. As a recovery route, a six-step protocol of springshed management shows more promising outcomes. However, Sikkim communities in India raised questions over its efficacy due to the improper execution of said protocols. A limited understanding of hill science, including inventory and inadequate inspections before implementation, were found to result in only partial success. Upgrading remains a challenge as maladaptation might increase landslides. Therefore, development plans demand rigorous science-based investigation, consideration of local community knowledge, and (pilot) monitoring before the upscaling of springshed projects can be successfully conducted.

Keywords: springshed approach; environmental security framework; sustainability challenges; upland communities; water governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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