With population expansion, urbanization, and the associated changes in consumerist culture, water is increasingly becoming a scarce resource even in the water-rich Himalaya. This is highly alarming given that the Himalayas are the source of three major transboundary river systems of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra that collectively support an estimated 700 million people. The future of water security in all of India depends heavily on Himalayan glaciers, rivers and on the health of mountain springs and streams.
The proper management of our limited water resources is of paramount importance to ensure water and food security for our increasing population. Therefore, IMI’s focus areas for 2020-23 are:
- Mountain-focused policies for water security
- Water pollution in IHR
- Springshed management
- Drinking Water Management