ABSTRACT
Despite receiving some of the highest rainfall on the planet, Meghalaya reels under acute water shortage during the lean period. Due to its hilly terrain, there is no significant natural surface for the storage of water. Because of this, villages rely on springs as their main source of water for household, drinking and irrigation purposes. The continuous growth in population has placed increasing pressure on these springs, leading to their gradual depletion. The “Springshed Management” approach was introduced by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency to revive these drying springs by focusing on the treatment of the catchment areas of the critical springs. As part of the initiative, field surveys involving community consultations and hydrogeological assessments are conducted, with the collected data mapped in Google Earth, which is then used to accurately delineate the springshed catchment areas. Interventions such as contour trenches, recharge pits, percolation ponds, plantation activities, etc., are proposed as recharge measures to rejuvenate the drying springs. These interventions aim to enhance groundwater recharge, restore spring flow and build long-term water security for vulnerable hill communities.
