Photograph of a stream with a negligible amount of flow

[Faisal]

The small streams which join the main river, "Gadheras" as they are
called in Uttarakhand are drying up due to the degradation of the
forest cover in the upland areas. These "Gadheras" are one of the main
sources of drinking water supply in the small hamlets in the Kumaun
Himalayas, however due to extensive deforestation, the water retention
potential of the slopes on the higher reaches have decreased to a
considerable extent and most of the rain water flows down as surface
run off causing frequent flash floods in the rainy season, destroying
property and sometime even posing danger to life.

Efforts should be made to plant trees which are native of the region
on these desertified hill slopes and avoiding exotic species such as
eucalyptus and pine plantations which are catastrophic for the ecology
of the region.