Impact of Global Warming on Climate Change Regarding Water Supply in the Darjeeling Hills of the Eastern Himalaya and Change in Mountain Ecology

Abstract

The Darjeeling Himalaya as a whole and in particular Darjeeling town is facing an age old severe water crisis particularly during non-monsoon months. The climate change vis-à-vis global warming scenario is in fact accelerating the processes. Temperature rise along with a lowering atmospheric humidity increases the biological demand of water, at the same time the gradual decrease in the number of rainy days and amount of precipitation further complicates the scenario. Rapid population growth coupled with heedless deforestation, unscientific and unplanned use of land has led to the establishment of a vicious cycle of degradation. As a result, the surface water availability during the dry months declined considerably over the past hundred years. Only 40 % of the rural population has access to any water, and the amount per capita falls far short of the daily recommended amount of 10 gallon (45 l) for drinking, cooking and washing. The scenario is even worse in urban areas, and scarcity creates war-like situations vis-à-vis rampant corruption/misuse. Near the foot hills, the water table is dropping dramatically or has disappeared completely leaving villages without a nearby water source. Keeping in mind the scenario of global warming and its possible effects on the future/projected water demand and supply in the Darjeeling Himalaya and to ensure the sustainability of the very existence of the queen of the hill stations, a long-term water resource management plan based on serious research and developments is the need of the time.