ABSTRACT
Integrated water resource management is a widely used practice for the water crisis occurring all over the world. It is the process of understanding the linkages between complex systems that are involved in the coordinated development of land and water. For the successful implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management , there is a need to balance three pillars of sustainability i.e., economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The hilly regions of India receive a wide range of hydrological extremes from monsoonal floods in the rainy season to dry season low flows. While floods damage the water infrastructure, during the dry season the shortage of water influences the livelihood, and the pressure exerted by the users is critical to successful water resource management. This study presents a case study of the Dharamshala town in Himachal Pradesh which is notified as the first hill town under the smart city proposal in 2016. This leads to an instant hike in the urban population of the town due to which the water demand increases. Increased water demand in the town exerted pressure on the available water resources. Based on the different concepts and techniques of water resource management the present study explains various water-related issues and challenges in hilly areas and concludes with suggestions and proposals for water conservation and management in hilly regions.
