Community Based Management of Traditional Water Resources in Western Himalayan Region

Abstract

The state of Himachal Pradesh in the IndianHimalayan region represents a unique agro-ecological setting with dominating traditional systems of indigenous remunity based modules of water harnessing and use were developed. The local livelihoods of the people were largely determined by the successful implementation of these traditional water management strategies. Unfortunately due to rising resource pressure and degradation over the years, these traditionalmodels have started rupturing. The local water harvesting systems have been depleted and neglected over the years. The erratic and uneven distribution of south west monsoonal rains is further adding to the problem. Thus there is need to conserve the water through the maintenance of age old Boulies (traditional water sources) and other community based initiatives of water harvesting. In the year 2003, a systematic effort was attempted through a grant of 8.247 million pounds by the Department for International Development (DFID) UK to carry out water conservation activities through local institutions of people representations known as Panchayats. I had been closely associated with this project and implemented it in four Panchayats. The chapter begins with an attempt to understand the evolution of policies on water and forestmanagementwith particular reference to the state of Himachal Pradesh. It then discusses the linkages between community, forest management and its impact on water management based livelihood issues. It also examines the possibilities of strengthening local institutions through appropriate policy interventions.