Sustainable development and management of water resource in mountain ecosystem: Some examples from Sikkim Himalaya

Water is vital for increasing the agricultural production. It is also in great demand for domestic and industrial use. Further it is an important medium for generating cheap hydroelectric power. Water is thus regarded as a resource among resources as all other resource bases have no meaning without this resource and life is not possible in its absence. The supply of drinking water to rural and urban population is another important aspect of utilisation of water resource.