Springs and spring-sheds to be counted in next minor irrigation census

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The government plans to count springs and their sheds in the seventh minor irrigation (MI) census expected to start next month, two officials said. A spring-shed is a land area with groundwater that contributes to a spring.

This comes in the backdrop of concerns around water security. The government is trying to estimate consumption of water and other usage in hill states, which are home to springs that feed into rivers flowing from the Himalayan mountains. However, rapid urbanization has led to a depletion of spring water, which have either dried up or become seasonal where they once were perennial sources of water.

In addition problems such as open defecation and sewage are polluting mountain springs. Water security is a non-traditional threat due to the interlinkages between water and other critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, health and the environment. The country faces a range of water-related challenges, including water scarcity, pollution, floods and droughts, which have significant impacts on various aspects of society and the economy.

“In the regular MI survey, we considered counting minor irrigation structures like ponds and tanks, among others. Then we added lakes and other things which were not there earlier. This time, we are planning to count spring and spring-sheds as well," one of the officials said.

“Springs are water bearing bodies which are there in the hilly areas. In the non-hilly or the plain areas, the springs may not be there. And if you are not counting in a way you are not considering that part of the population in terms of the policy decisions befitting for them," the official added.