Document extract

Climate extremes have become a reality in Uttarkashi, with increasing disaster events. The region experiences landslides, thunderstorms, cloud bursts, road accidents, flash floods and droughts. About 50% of springs in the region have dried up or turned seasonal. Drying up of springs within the Himalayas is primarily due to changes in land use, ecological degradation and haphazard developmental activities. The impact of depleted aquifers in the mountains leads to water insecurity, forest fires and increased mass debris movement from slopes. Floods are not a common occurrence in mountain landscapes, the flooding event in 2013, was a landmark for disaster management in the state and country, highlighting poor development choices and lack of disaster management plans. Since 2013 the state has focussed on developing Disaster Management (DM) plans for the respective districts. The current DM plan for Uttarkashi which also caters to watershed management provides the institutional arrangement for coordinated response in case of emergencies. Integration of water shed management approaches for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) needs due consideration within these plans, integrated watershed management can be an instrument for reducing water-mediated disaster risks in the landscape