📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Freshfield, Douglas William, 1845-1934
Agriculture
Sikkim Highlights Terrain‑Specific Water Management at Jal Shakti Summit
✍️ thestatesman.com
🗓 04 Sep 2026, 12:32 AM
👁 31
At the Jal Shakti Summit, Sikkim raised the need for water‑management policies that reflect its mountainous terrain.
Sikkim’s delegation used the Jal Shakti Summit platform to draw attention to the state’s unique water‑management challenges. Representatives argued that the steep slopes, fragile ecosystems and dispersed settlements of the Himalayan state require solutions different from those applied in the plains.
The delegation called for greater central support in developing terrain‑specific infrastructure, such as micro‑hydropower, rainwater harvesting and flood‑resilient irrigation systems. They also urged the inclusion of local expertise in policy formulation to ensure that interventions are both sustainable and culturally appropriate.
Officials highlighted that existing national schemes often overlook the logistical and environmental constraints faced by mountainous regions. By tailoring programmes to Sikkim’s topography, the state aims to improve water security for agriculture, drinking supply and disaster mitigation.
The summit, which brings together federal and state leaders, is expected to shape upcoming water‑related policies. Sikkim’s appeal underscores the broader debate on how India’s diverse geography can be accommodated within a unified water‑management framework.
The delegation called for greater central support in developing terrain‑specific infrastructure, such as micro‑hydropower, rainwater harvesting and flood‑resilient irrigation systems. They also urged the inclusion of local expertise in policy formulation to ensure that interventions are both sustainable and culturally appropriate.
Officials highlighted that existing national schemes often overlook the logistical and environmental constraints faced by mountainous regions. By tailoring programmes to Sikkim’s topography, the state aims to improve water security for agriculture, drinking supply and disaster mitigation.
The summit, which brings together federal and state leaders, is expected to shape upcoming water‑related policies. Sikkim’s appeal underscores the broader debate on how India’s diverse geography can be accommodated within a unified water‑management framework.