While Ladakh is endowed with abundant glacier and snowmelt resources, vast stretches of its cultivable land have historically faced acute irrigation shortages. NEW DELHI: The Ladakh administration on Sunday submitted a proposal to the Union ministry of Jal Shakti for the construction of 36 check dams to strengthen water availability and expand irrigation potential in the Union Territory.The proposal includes seven Himalayan rock check dams in Leh and 29 reinforced cement concrete (RCC) check dams in Kargil, at an estimated cost of more than Rs 56 crore.A Lok Bhavan spokesperson said the proposal has been submitted for inclusion under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and is awaiting consideration and approval from the ministry.According to the detailed project report submitted to the Jal Shakti ministry, the proposed check dams are expected to irrigate more than 18,600 acres of land.The administration said the initiative is aimed at conserving water and improving its availability for agriculture in Ladakh, where water scarcity remains a major challenge during the agricultural season despite the region’s glaciers, snowfall and glacial meltwater.Currently, less than one percent of the total annual snow and glacial meltwater is utilised, the spokesperson said.The proposed check dams will also create an average storage capacity of 25-30 million litres of water in shallow stretches of rivers. The administration said such structures have shown durability and resistance to increasing water flows.Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said that recent initiatives, including the diversion of around 90 million litres of glacier water from Stok Nallah into the Igoo-Phey Canal and Chushot village canal, demonstrated how simple, cost-effective and environmentally suitable interventions could improve water availability and agriculture.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”The rock check dams and recent initiative to divert approximately 90 million litres of glacier water from Stok Nallah into Igoo-Phey Canal and Chushot village canal demonstrates that simple, cost-effective and environmentally suitable interventions can make a transformative difference to water availability and agriculture,” the LG said.”We must harness every possible water resource and create a water-secure, agriculturally prosperous and climate-resilient Ladakh,” he added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’No Full Press Conference’: US Envoy Gor On India’s ‘No Questions’ Request Before Modi-Trump Meet‘Represented India In 3 Nations’: Former Envoy Flags ‘Trouble Establishing Citizenship’ During SIRJaish Rebuilds Bahawalpur Complex Struck By India During Op Sindoor’India Can Attract Global Talent With Your Help’: PM Modi Meets Space Startups On National Space DayDelhi Cops Attacked With Chilli Powder & Bricks In Mukundpur; 17-Year-Old Arrested‘Plan To Meet Vance, Mamdani’: Why MEA Denied Permission For Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s US Trip?’No Problem When Boys Do It’: Rahul Gandhi’s Attack At PM Modi Over Jantar Mantar AbuseYoutuber Ajeet Bharti Lists 4 Big Demands At Jantar Mantar, Calls For Reservation Reform And MeritPM Modi Meets BJP’s New Team At Delhi HQ As Party Pushes Vande Mataram Legacy Nationwide‘48 Hours Or Sit-In’: Abhijeet Dipke Warns After CJP Team Allegedly Attacked Near Jaipur School123Photostories10 baby names inspired by Sanskrit words that signify success and prosperity5 signs you’re losing yourself while trying to save your relationshipThe slow fade: 5 signs someone you love is pulling away5 best hair colours for Indian skin tones that instantly brighten your lookWhy the Manipuri bride’s traditional Potloi is in a league of its ownBlood in urine during monsoon is not always a UTI: Doctor reveals when you should worryOptical illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret weakness in loveHeart attack risk is not just about cholesterol: 7 warning factors doctors check that routine tests can missHina Khan recalls being brutally trolled over viral National Anthem video amid health struggles; Rubina Dilaik reveals her daughters received threats5 signs someone in your life likes to see you suffer in secret123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleCM Revanth ReddyWeather tomorrowNEET UG 2026US-Canada tradeSIM card rulesBank holiday todayTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash

While Ladakh is endowed with abundant glacier and snowmelt resources, vast stretches of its cultivable land have historically faced acute irrigation shortages. NEW DELHI: The Ladakh administration on Sunday submitted a proposal to the Union ministry of Jal Shakti for the construction of 36 check dams to strengthen water availability and expand irrigation potential in the Union Territory.The proposal includes seven Himalayan rock check dams in Leh and 29 reinforced cement concrete (RCC) check dams in Kargil, at an estimated cost of more than Rs 56 crore.A Lok Bhavan spokesperson said the proposal has been submitted for inclusion under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and is awaiting consideration and approval from the ministry.According to the detailed project report submitted to the Jal Shakti ministry, the proposed check dams are expected to irrigate more than 18,600 acres of land.The administration said the initiative is aimed at conserving water and improving its availability for agriculture in Ladakh, where water scarcity remains a major challenge during the agricultural season despite the region’s glaciers, snowfall and glacial meltwater.Currently, less than one percent of the total annual snow and glacial meltwater is utilised, the spokesperson said.The proposed check dams will also create an average storage capacity of 25-30 million litres of water in shallow stretches of rivers. The administration said such structures have shown durability and resistance to increasing water flows.Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said that recent initiatives, including the diversion of around 90 million litres of glacier water from Stok Nallah into the Igoo-Phey Canal and Chushot village canal, demonstrated how simple, cost-effective and environmentally suitable interventions could improve water availability and agriculture.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”The rock check dams and recent initiative to divert approximately 90 million litres of glacier water from Stok Nallah into Igoo-Phey Canal and Chushot village canal demonstrates that simple, cost-effective and environmentally suitable interventions can make a transformative difference to water availability and agriculture,” the LG said.”We must harness every possible water resource and create a water-secure, agriculturally prosperous and climate-resilient Ladakh,” he added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’No Full Press Conference’: US Envoy Gor On India’s ‘No Questions’ Request Before Modi-Trump Meet‘Represented India In 3 Nations’: Former Envoy Flags ‘Trouble Establishing Citizenship’ During SIRJaish Rebuilds Bahawalpur Complex Struck By India During Op Sindoor’India Can Attract Global Talent With Your Help’: PM Modi Meets Space Startups On National Space DayDelhi Cops Attacked With Chilli Powder & Bricks In Mukundpur; 17-Year-Old Arrested‘Plan To Meet Vance, Mamdani’: Why MEA Denied Permission For Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s US Trip?’No Problem When Boys Do It’: Rahul Gandhi’s Attack At PM Modi Over Jantar Mantar AbuseYoutuber Ajeet Bharti Lists 4 Big Demands At Jantar Mantar, Calls For Reservation Reform And MeritPM Modi Meets BJP’s New Team At Delhi HQ As Party Pushes Vande Mataram Legacy Nationwide‘48 Hours Or Sit-In’: Abhijeet Dipke Warns After CJP Team Allegedly Attacked Near Jaipur School123Photostories10 baby names inspired by Sanskrit words that signify success and prosperity5 signs you’re losing yourself while trying to save your relationshipThe slow fade: 5 signs someone you love is pulling away5 best hair colours for Indian skin tones that instantly brighten your lookWhy the Manipuri bride’s traditional Potloi is in a league of its ownBlood in urine during monsoon is not always a UTI: Doctor reveals when you should worryOptical illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret weakness in loveHeart attack risk is not just about cholesterol: 7 warning factors doctors check that routine tests can missHina Khan recalls being brutally trolled over viral National Anthem video amid health struggles; Rubina Dilaik reveals her daughters received threats5 signs someone in your life likes to see you suffer in secret123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleCM Revanth ReddyWeather tomorrowNEET UG 2026US-Canada tradeSIM card rulesBank holiday todayTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash


Ladakh seeks Centre's approval for 36 check dams to expand irrigation
While Ladakh is endowed with abundant glacier and snowmelt resources, vast stretches of its cultivable land have historically faced acute irrigation shortages.

NEW DELHI: The Ladakh administration on Sunday submitted a proposal to the Union ministry of Jal Shakti for the construction of 36 check dams to strengthen water availability and expand irrigation potential in the Union Territory.The proposal includes seven Himalayan rock check dams in Leh and 29 reinforced cement concrete (RCC) check dams in Kargil, at an estimated cost of more than Rs 56 crore.A Lok Bhavan spokesperson said the proposal has been submitted for inclusion under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and is awaiting consideration and approval from the ministry.According to the detailed project report submitted to the Jal Shakti ministry, the proposed check dams are expected to irrigate more than 18,600 acres of land.The administration said the initiative is aimed at conserving water and improving its availability for agriculture in Ladakh, where water scarcity remains a major challenge during the agricultural season despite the region’s glaciers, snowfall and glacial meltwater.Currently, less than one percent of the total annual snow and glacial meltwater is utilised, the spokesperson said.The proposed check dams will also create an average storage capacity of 25-30 million litres of water in shallow stretches of rivers. The administration said such structures have shown durability and resistance to increasing water flows.Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said that recent initiatives, including the diversion of around 90 million litres of glacier water from Stok Nallah into the Igoo-Phey Canal and Chushot village canal, demonstrated how simple, cost-effective and environmentally suitable interventions could improve water availability and agriculture.

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