PUNE: Nearly 30 per cent of springs crucial to water security of people are drying and 50 per cent have reported reduced discharge, stated a report readied by five working groups set up by NITI Aayog to recognize the uniqueness of the Himalayas and the challenges of sustainable development .

With the group appointed last year, they highlighted how the growing Himalayan annual tourism at 6.8 per cent in the Himalayan region states to be more than double by 2025, the group has sought for urgent action to address critical issues of waste management and water crisis in addition to other environmental and social issues.

The key messages from the reports included spring mapping and revival, using 8 steps protocol be taken up across Himalayan states in phased manner, apply carrying capacity concept to all major tourist destinations and. implement and monitor tourism sector.

The call for actions include setting up of a Himalayan Authority for coordinated and holistic development of entire Himalayan region and launching of "Himalaya Calling": An awareness to action campaign as people's movement.

The call for action also includes suggestions for setting up of Mission on Spring Water Management in Himalayas, National Mission/Programme on Transforming Shifting Cultivation in North Eastern States, demand driven network of skill and entrepreneurship development Centers in Himalayan States, consortium of institutions of high learning for mountain specific research and technology, link with Hindukush Himalaya Monitoring and Assessment program (HIMAP) and Setting up Central Data Management Agency for Himalayan Database at GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development.

The working group worked on inventory and revival of springs in Himalayas for water security, sustainable tourism in Indian Himalayan region, transformative approach to shifting cultivation, strengthening skill and entrepreneurship landscape in Himalayas and data/information for informed decision making.

