Abstract
Ladakh, a
high-altitude desert with extremely low precipitation, a popular tourist
destination and a unique geographical heritage. It is also at the centre of
Indo–China boundary dispute. The challenges of water management in the region
are low rainfall, high influx of tourists, increasing infrastructure, and heavy
dependence on groundwater without adequate replenishment. Thus, water storage
is essential and certain eco-friendly methods such as artificial glaciers or
ice stupas have been tried. These methods
are manpower intensive, less efficient and need recurring annual effort. Very
small-scale check dams on various streams can be an effective means to store
water and will automatically freeze in winter. The check dams are fairly easy
to construct with a simple design and low water height along with adequate
pondage. These check dams will help meet water requirements in an efficient and
eco-friendly manner as well as facilitate groundwater recharge, besides being
suitable sites for winter skiing and potential tourist spots. The approximate
cost of one such check dam is likely to be INR 8.10 Cr.
Introduction
Ladakh lies in a
high-altitude desert with extremely low precipitation and scanty vegetation.
This has led to a unique climate and geomorphological evolution. The vast and
barren landscape, interspersed with turquoise blue rivers and pristine lakes,
blessed by the Llamas and their various monasteries is the new haven for
tourists from India and abroad alike. The region is home to around four lakh
people1, but it now
hosts approximately one lakh people as tourists on an annual basis.2 That figure is likely to grow, as movies make
the picturesque Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso more popular and the Indian middle
class has more money to splurge. Most of the SUV buyers head to Ladakh
immediately on buying and a selfie on a motorbike on roads along the Indus is
fast becoming much desired.
In addition, the situation on the Line
of Actual Control has mandated an increase in the deployment of security forces
in the region. While the security forces always had a role to play in the
region, the numbers have only gone up in the last two years.3
Increasing
Water Shortage in Ladakh
While
the increasing number of tourists is a good and welcome sign for the local
economy, it has put a severe strain on the water resources in this cold desert.
The average precipitation in Ladakh is less than 100 millimetres (mm) and in
several places, it is less than 50 mm. The monthly mean of rainfall is shown
below.4
The per capita
consumption of water by a tourist is generally higher than a local Ladakhi and
the numbers make the demand for water an alarming issue.5 Hence, there is an acute shortage of water for
various daily needs, and it becomes even more critical as tourism increases. The
increased groundwater requirement is being met by the various borewells that
have sprung up in Leh and nearby areas. These borewells are pumping water from
aquifers that have been recharged over hundreds and thousands of years but are
depleting fast.
Figure 1
Figure 2: Monthly mean of rainfall during 2000-2013
Figure 3:
Comparison of Water Usage in Ladakh Across
Users and Seasons (Source: Niti Ayog5)
At the same time,
it is a stated government goal to provide tap water to every citizen across India,
including Ladakh. Water is the essence of life. Thus, water management in
Ladakh becomes a priority to ensure that this precious resource is optimally
utilised and does not lead to over-exploitation of the groundwater while
meeting the aspirations of the locals as well as the tourists who throng this
beautiful place.
The challenges of water management in
Leh can be summarised as low rainfall, high influx of tourists, increasing
hotels and other infrastructure, and heavy dependence on groundwater without
adequate replenishment.
The region gets water in the form of
snowfall in the winter seasons and the snow-melted water is the source of water
in the summers. Since it does not rain for a very large part of the year, water
storage is essential.
Traditional
and Current Water Storage Methods
Traditionally,
water requirements have been met by the populace of Ladakh from the natural
streams, nalas (streams) and rivers. Thus, most of the habitation has
come up along these areas. As the population grew, and alongside the water
demand, various measures have been taken by the locals to preserve water. A
unique method in Hunder Village is separating the drinking water stream from
the other water streams and ensuring its hygiene and free flow almost
throughout the year. There are various signboards along this stream that advise
locals on its utility and the need to protect the stream.
Also, certain eco-friendly methods of
water conservation, such as artificial glaciers or ice stupas have been
propagated in the region.6 Artificial glaciers are a remarkable
innovation to address water scarcity in the region. These artificial glaciers
are created using a simple yet effective technique. The process involves
diverting water from streams into shaded areas, typically valleys or
depressions, where it freezes during the winter months. By controlling the flow
of water and strategically designing the location and shape of these ice
structures, water is stored in the form of ice during the winter, which
gradually melts during the spring and summer months, providing a vital water
source for irrigation and drinking water.
This ingenious solution has helped
alleviate water shortages in the Leh region, particularly during the critical
agricultural season, when water is in high demand. Additionally, it reduces
reliance on unpredictable glacier melt water and provides a sustainable
alternative for water storage and management in the region. Hence, these
methods have their own utility.
However, there are certain drawbacks.
These artificial glaciers or ice stupas need to be made from the natural snow
on a yearly basis. Artificial glaciers can only provide water to areas located
within their vicinity. This means they may not address water scarcity issues in
regions far from their location. This activity needs to be done on a large
enough scale to merit due benefits of water storage. Also, the activity has to
be done in winter per force and needs manual effort. There is a need to look
for better solutions to manage water and its storage on a recurring basis in
Ladakh.
Check
Dams as a Water Storage Solution: A Permanent Water Stupa
One
such solution can be the construction of very small-scale check dams on the
various streams and nalas. Currently, these nalas run at full
capacity during summers but dry up in winter. Once check dams are made in
phases, water can be stored for use around the year. These check dams can store
water and will automatically freeze in winter and act as a reservoir and there
will be no need to create artificial glaciers or ice stupas. In addition, due
to the peculiarity of the terrain, there is a need to construct these check
dams at various heights along one stream. This height difference between
various check dams will ensure that the highest one will freeze first in winter
and melt last in summer. It will, therefore, ensure a perennial supply of water
in these nalas.
Another advantage of constructing these
check dams will be to boost tourism. Leh is renowned for its stunning
landscapes and adventurous activities. However, due to its high altitude and
relatively warmer climate in the summer months, finding ice skating sites
directly in Leh can be challenging. During the winter months when temperatures
drop significantly, natural frozen lakes and ponds offer opportunities for ice
skating. Currently, a small pond along the Leh Kargil route along the Indus
River is used by locals for ice skating. Also, this site is used by Ice Hockey
teams of the army and locals to practice. There is no other suitable site in
the town of Leh for ice skating. A series of check dams along a nala
will provide a suitable location for ice skating in winter and a photogenic
background to tourists in summer.
The check dams are fairly easy to
construct. A simple design that ensures no leakages and low water height along
with adequate pondage at the selected site will meet the requirement. The
design will have to factor in the seismic threat in the region and hence, it is
deliberately kept at a low height. Also, the construction, operation and maintenance
of these will also provide job opportunities to the locals. The operation of
the check dams will involve maintenance of sluice gates and de-silting on a
required basis, mostly annually in the lean season.
Case
Study: Check Dams in Leh Town
The
methodology of construction of these check dams can be easily implemented in
various places, however, to understand the concept a case study of Leh is being
presented here. The natural water source for Leh is the Khardung Nala
which streams down from the snowcapped Khardungla range. This water source
freezes during winter and is a gushing stream for a few days in summer. In
2023, this nala overflowed and led to a minor flood situation due to a
cloud burst. It is proposed that a series of check dams be made on this nala
at different elevations to better manage the flow of this water.
Image 1: Leh
Valley Between Zanskar and Ladakh Range
Water
Requirements v/s Availability for Leh Town.
Leh,
the largest town in the Ladakh region of the Union Territory of Ladakh,
experiences very low annual precipitation due to its high-altitude desert
climate. The annual rainfall is typically less than 100 mm (around 4 inches).
The bulk of the rainfall occurs during the summer months, from Jun to Aug,
although even during this time, rainfall is minimal compared to other regions.
The rainfall can vary from year to year, with some years experiencing even less
precipitation than others. Leh’s climate is characterised by cold winters and
mild summers, with most of its precipitation falling as snow during the winter
months. The snowfall in Leh typically occurs from late Nov to early Mar, with
the peak of the snowfall usually happening in Dec and Jan.
Image 2:
Catchment Area for Leh Town
The average annual precipitation in Leh
is 100 mm as per data provided by the Defence Institute of High-Altitude
Research. The catchment area north of Leh town is approximately 60 sq km, which
lies on the ridge line to South Pullu.
One mm of
rainfall provides approximately one litre of water per square meter. Out of
this, approximately 50 per cent will be available for storage in check dams.
Hence, the total volume available annually is likely to be 30 lakh Kilolitres
(Kl). Leh has a local population of approximately 45,000. In addition, about 5,000
government servants and approximately 5,000 tourists (on a daily maximum basis
in summer) are also located in Leh. Hence, the peak water requirement of Leh
town (@100 litre per person) is 5,500 Kl/day. The annual availability in the
check dams is likely to be 30 Lakh Kl against a requirement of 20 Lakh Kl.
Proposed
Solution for Leh.
Proper
storage and use of surface runoff can meet the water requirements of Leh in an
efficient and eco-friendly manner. One of the efficient storage options is
multiple small check dams constructed at various elevations across the Khardung
Nala. These small check dams will freeze sequentially in winter and
allow better stage-wise storage. In summer, the thawing will also be sequential
and gradual based on altitude and hence, will meet the requirements of the
users downstream, one check dam at a time. As one check dam melts, the water
will be available for use while the check dam which is at a higher altitude
will remain frozen and act as a reservoir for a later date. Thus, 8 to 10 small
check dams can meet the total requirements for a sustained flow.
To achieve 30 Lakh Kl storage, an
average height of 3 m, an average span of 300 m and a pondage of 333 m may be
considered. However, a detailed ground survey will be required for detailed and
adequate design. The construction can be carried out in phases based on the
success of one check dam. The dimensions are only for preliminary planning
purposes based on the author’s visit to the site.
Within Leh Town, a near perennial nala
runs from north to south. Steps should be created in this nala using
local stones. This will help to slow down surface runoff, beautify the place
and increase water availability as well as better groundwater recharge.
Figure 4
These check dams
will help meet water requirements in an efficient and eco-friendly manner as
well as facilitate groundwater recharge. If properly planned, these can become
suitable sites for winter skiing and potential tourist spots and generate local
employment. These can also act as short-duration storage in case of cloud
bursts, thus, acting as trip wires for early information. There will be a boost
to ice skating and these sites can act as micro-tourism sites.
Past experiences with various types of
water storage mechanisms employed in Ladakh show that check dams could be the
real solution. One such system is functional in Nang Village.7 The system was built with funds from Tata
Trust. However, suitable design modifications need to be carried out as per
site requirements and geological conditions. In flow artificial glaciers have
also been made at Alchi, Phuksey, Igu, and Nang. A better design with a more
comprehensive approach is likely to be an effective solution. The efficacy of
the entire check dam-based solution lies in comprehensive planning, sound
design and the involvement of various stakeholders including locals, the water
and tourism departments, etc.
Image 3: Improvised check dams at Nang
Village
(Image
courtesy @Sierra Gladfelter Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Scholar7)
Recommended
Way Ahead
Preliminary
estimates suggest that the approximate cost of one such check dam is likely to
be INR 8.10 cr. However, a detailed project report can be made before
implementing the project in Leh. If the pilot project is successful, it will
pave the way for large-scale implementation of these small check dams and will
go a long way in mitigating the water shortage in Ladakh. Other government
organisations and security forces may adopt a similar model on a smaller scale
for various detachments spread along the vast landscape of the union territory.
The check dam project has the potential
to benefit the locals in terms of water availability as well as job creation,
both during construction and later as a tourist site. It can also actively
boost ice skating sports in the region. If implemented and maintained properly,
this simple solution can prove to be an eco-friendly solution to the water
crisis in Ladakh. It will also ensure that awareness is raised about the need
to conserve water among locals and tourists.
Endnotes
1 Leh Ladakh Town Population Census 2011–2024.
https://www. census2011.co.in/data/town/800047-leh-ladakh-jammu-and-kashmir.html
2 Administration of UT of Ladakh Tourism.
https://ladakh.nic.in/tourism
3 Rehul Bedi, “Indian Army’s Increased
Deployment Along LAC Likely to Become a Permanent Fixture”, The Wire, 21 May
2021.
https://thewire.in/security/indian-armys-increased
deployment-along-lac-likely-to-become-a-permanent-fixture.
4 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/a-Entire-temperature-and-precipitation-record-available-at-Leh-station-3500-m-asl_fig2_341460980
5 Carbon Neutral Resource Efficient Strategy for
Ladakh UT.pdf, page 31, Niti Aayog.
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-03/Carbon%20Neutral%
20Resource%20Efficient%20Strategy%20for%20Ladakh %20UT.pdf
6 The Ice Stupa Project.
http://icestupa.org/
7 Ladakh’s Artificial Glaciers, Ice Stupas, and
Human-made Ice Reserves.
https://sierragladfelterblog.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/gladfelter_
artificialglaciersofladakh_reflectionsandtakeaways_compressed.pdf
@Colonel Vijay
Kumar Goyat,
an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned
into the Corps of Engineers in Dec 1997. Besides being a BTech
(Civil-Engineering), the officer is a postgraduate in Defence Technology and
has completed his MBA in Operational Research. He has vast military experience
in varied terrain across India besides serving as a Military Observer in Ivory
Coast in 2009-10. He commanded an Engineer Regiment both in the desert as well
as Northeast Sector besides commanding the Engineer Stores Depot at Delhi. The
Officer has a rich experience in the construction of strategic infrastructure
especially in Northeast India and Eastern Ladakh. His interests include
sustainability and military technology.
Journal of the United Service Institution
of India, Vol. CLIV, No. 636,
April-June 2024.