Water crisis looms large in Himalayan regions, finds study

News: According to a survey, published in the journal Water Policy, eight towns in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region of Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Pakistan were nearly 20%-70% deficient in their water supply.

Facts:

Key takeaways:

• Major Challenges faced: changing water budgets, increasing demand for water and water scarcity.
• Reasons for water crisis: poor water governance, lack of urban planning, poor tourism management during peak season, and climate-related risks and challenges
• Solutions: Holistic water management approach that includes springshed management and planned adaptation

Additional Information:

The Hindu Kush and Himalayan Range (HKH):

• It  is famously known as the earth’s “third pole” as it forms the largest area of permanent ice cover outside of the North and South Poles.
• It spans Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan