State-level workshop on Dhara Vikash Programme held

GANGTOK, 18 Jan: The state-level workshop on ‘Experience Sharing on Local Water Governance and Dhara Vikash Programme’ was held here at Janta Bhawan today. In the workshop, the officials and representatives from The Mountain Institute-India [TMI-India] and Rural Management & Development Department [RMDD] shared their experiences and achievements so far in their water related projects at different parts of the state.  They also spoke on local water governance, challenges and future strategies to address various issues and problems.
The workshop was organized by TMI-India in collaboration with RMDD and was funded by Arghyam.
RMDD Minister, CB Karki, present as the chief guest at the programme, stated that water scarcity has become an important issue for the whole world and that even the Chief Minister has given priority to water and food security in the state. He directed the concerned department to work in this regard to prepare the state to face future challenges.
Mr Karki informed that RMDD has been working for water and environment security across the state and has been working to revive and preserve water resources in the state. He stated that everyone has to work together in the Dhara Vikash programme, lake development and preservation initiatives.
He also added that the department issues guidelines to work on these initiatives and that people should participate fully for the preservation and development of water sources and for local water governance.
The Minister also stressed on storage of water and to utilize it in a proper way further adding that the collection of related data and working in a scientific way is important for future initiatives.
Dr Ghanashyam Sharma from TMI-India gave his presentation on the TMI-India implemented project, ‘Provision of safe domestic water through sustainable development and management of water sources in rural areas of East and South Sikkim’. The project implementation began in February 2010 in convergence with MG NREGA Dhara Vikash initiative of the State Rural Management and Development Department.
It was informed that the project seeks to address the issues related to drinking water and sanitation through survey, documentation, awareness generation and subsequent support from concerned government departments in the three GPUs namely Linkey-Tareythang GPU in East Sikkim, and Sumbuk-Kartikey and Lunchok-Kameray GPUs in South Sikkim.
Informing about the various activities at their project sites, Dr Sharma said that micro planning was done to learn about water related problems in different areas including sanitation problems and reported to the concerned BDOs. He also informed that TMI has been studying 170 springs and it was found that many have dried up in the last 5 years. He further informed that TMI is studying both seasonal and perennial springs.
TMI has also provided trainings and inputs to barefoot engineers while other activities are also underway, Dr Sharma said. Ground water recharge measures and spring disappearances are some important challenges that need to be addressed, he further added.
RMDD Special Secretary, Dr Sandeep Tambe said that securing water resources and sources are important for the state. He informed that the Dhara Vikash project and recharging of lakes have proved successful at different parts of the state in reviving and protecting water sources.
Likewise, Field Facilitator of Kaluk BAC, Pem Norbu presented the success story of Dhara Vikash programme in Kaluk in West Sikkim and Temi BAC Field Facilitator also shared the success of Dhara Vikash in his area.