Effort afoot to address water security and enhancing ecosystem resilience through a hydrogeological survey in L/Subansiri dist

ITANAGAR, Nov 29: With a view to rejuvenate and conserve Siya Piro spring in Ziro under Lower Subansiri district towards addressing water security and enhancing ecosystem resilience, the G B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE) joined hands with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) carried out a comprehensive field survey.

The six-day survey that concluded on Thursday focused on identifying recharge zones using hydrogeological assessments. This initiative, aimed at rejuvenating and conserving the Siya Piro spring, is a critical step towards addressing water security and enhancing ecosystem resilience in the Indian Himalayan Region.

The survey was part of the HI-REAP programme under the project titled ‘Scaling Ecosystem-based Approaches in the Indian Himalayan Region for Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity Resilience’. As a collaborative effort, the project emphasizes sustainable ecosystem-based approaches for water resource management.

LOed by Tridipa Biswas, Scientist-C at GBPNIHE-NERC, and supported by a multidisciplinary team, the survey also involved experts from ICIMOD, including Yogesh Barola and Goma Khadka, along with Dr Sivaranjani, Scientist-C from GBPNIHE-NERC and teams from GBPNIHE-HQ and GBPNIHE-SRC. The team conducted extensive hydrogeological assessments with active participation from the local community.

Student leader Nako Komo provided on-ground guidance, while ZPMs Subu Lento (Kalung) and Hage Dolo (Hari) offered significant support to the initiative.

The findings from this survey will contribute to the spring shed rejuvenation and conservation framework, ensuring sustainable water supply for local communities while strengthening biodiversity resilience. This collaboration reflects the importance of integrating scientific research with local knowledge to tackle pressing environmental challenges in the Himalayan region.