Kargil, Aug 25: The Ladakh administration has submitted a proposal worth more than Rs 56 crore to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for the construction of 36 check dams aimed at conserving snow and glacier meltwater and expanding assured irrigation across the Union Territory.
The proposal, prepared under the Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana (PMKSY) on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, envisages seven Himalayan rock check dams along the Indus River in Leh district and 29 reinforced cement concrete (RCC) check dams and weirs along the Suru River in Kargil district.
According to the administration, the proposed structures are expected to bring more than 18,600 acres of agricultural land under irrigation while helping capture a larger share of Ladakh’s seasonal snow and glacial meltwater.
Despite its extensive glaciers and heavy winter snowfall, Ladakh currently utilises less than one per cent of its annual snow and glacial meltwater, with much of the water flowing downstream during the summer months. The administration has identified this as a major challenge for farmers who face water shortages during critical sowing and growing periods.
“Ladakh cannot afford to let its precious glacier and snowmelt water flow away unused while our farmers face water shortages during the agricultural season,” Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said.
“We must harness every possible water resource and create a water-secure, agriculturally prosperous, and climate-resilient Ladakh,” he added.
Kargil accounts for the larger share of the proposed infrastructure, with 29 check dams planned along the Suru River. The administration said the focus follows representations from villagers and farmers who raised the issue of acute irrigation shortages during the Lieutenant Governor’s recent visit to the district.
Saxena said the proposed projects would help address the region’s agricultural water requirements while improving long-term water and agricultural security.
“The UT Administration has taken a monumental step to ensure a water-secure, agriculturally prosperous, and climate-resilient Ladakh,” he said, adding that the 36 projects would help impound a significant volume of currently untapped snow and glacier meltwater.
The proposal builds on the administration’s experience with five pilot rock check dams, which, according to officials, can store up to 30 million litres of water while withstanding high seasonal river pressure. The pilot structures have also helped increase cultivable command areas by up to 30 per cent.
The administration expects the proposed check dams to improve water availability for agriculture, reduce seasonal shortages and strengthen the resilience of farming communities in the high-altitude region.
Saxena said the initiative was aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on water conservation and stressed the need to maximise the use of glacier meltwater while protecting Ladakh’s fragile environment.
“Guided by PM Narendra Modi Ji’s visionary principle of conserving water for our future security, the Administration is committed to conserving and harnessing every drop of our precious glacier meltwater,” he said.
He added that the proposed interventions were intended to be eco-friendly and cost-effective and expressed confidence that they would help address persistent water shortages faced by farmers across Ladakh.
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