Legislators' Dialogue on Water Policy in the IHR, Bengaluru

A High Panel Parliamentarians/ Legislators’ Dialogue was held on 25th September in Bengaluru during the Water Future Conference to discuss water issues in the IHR. The conference was attended by about a dozen MPs, MLAs and representatives from Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and members of IMI, World Bank, Divecha Centre for Climate Change, United Nations University (UNU) and officials from national and international institutes of excellence including Future Earth and Global Water Futures.

It was organized by Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) and supported by Divecha Centre for Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science and Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP).

Key discussion points:

• Two critical areas of melting of glaciers and reviving springs were discussed at length as is the impact of the tourism sector in increasing water stress in the region.
• Need for a comprehensive water policy for the states of IHR.
• More exploration in areas of strengthening research, action and policy directions.
• Need for establishment of a Mountain Solutions Programme which will include a Water Solutions Lab for the region for sustained and integrated effort to address key issues.
• Scope of more interactive platforms between the scientific community, policymakers and communities to arrive at better solutions in building towards a water secure future.