Leh: The country’s “first-ever” rock check dam has come up in the Union Territory of Ladakh under a campaign aimed at addressing recurring seasonal water scarcity in the high-altitude region, officials said.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday launched the initiative — ‘Sindhu Jal Samriddhi Abhiyan’ — with the inauguration of the dam over the Indus river at Upshi in Leh district.
The eco-friendly rock check dam, located around 44 kilometres from Leh at an altitude of 11,400 feet, has been conceived as a sustainable and low-cost solution to improve irrigation facilities and strengthen water security in remote villages of Ladakh, an official spokesperson said.
He said the initiative seeks to augment water availability by creating rock check dams at strategically identified narrow stretches of the Indus, where tapping river water becomes easier and more effective.
“The sites are being selected in consultation with local villagers and communities,” the spokesperson said.
The lieutenant governor (LG) directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to construct three more such rock check dams within a month on an experimental basis.
“The project has been designed to address a major challenge faced by farmers in Ladakh during the sowing season, when the Indus river becomes shallow in several stretches, making it difficult for conventional motors and pumps to lift water to uphill agricultural fields,” the spokesperson said.
The newly constructed check dam creates a large pondage area capable of storing substantial quantities of water for irrigation purposes during peak agricultural activity, he said.
“Built entirely using rocks sourced from the riverbed and nearby areas, the structure avoids the use of cement or concrete, making it an environmentally sustainable intervention,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Saxena said the Sindhu Jal Samriddhi Abhiyan would help improve irrigation facilities, enhance water security and support sustainable agriculture in Ladakh’s remote villages.
Describing it as another innovative ecological initiative after the launch of Project Him Sarovar, the LG said the project had been designed as a model for long-term water and agricultural sustainability while preserving Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem.
Unlike conventional cement-concrete structures, the rock check dam functions as a semi-permanent barrier across the river channel, slowing down the flow of water and creating a cascading effect that increases oxidation in the river while allowing excess water to pass through, Saxena said.
The check dam at Upshi measures nearly 200 feet in length, with a base width of 30 feet and a top deck width of 15 feet, the spokesperson said, adding that standing five feet above the riverbed, the structure has been engineered to withstand increased water discharge during the summer months.
He said the present water flow in the Indus river is around 25 cusecs, which is expected to increase nearly eight-fold to around 200 cusecs during July and August. “The design has been prepared to withstand the high water pressure during peak flow periods.”
Constructed between May 12 and May 18, the project was completed within seven days, during which the LG conducted three site visits to monitor the progress.
Around 180 metric tonnes of rocks, each weighing between 500 kilograms and 10 metric tonnes, were interlocked within the riverbed to build the structure, the spokesperson said.
The check dam has already created a pondage area extending nearly 1,500 feet upstream and storing an estimated 40 million litres of water.
The officials said the water depth along the river edges ranges between four and five feet, while it reaches nearly 10 feet in the middle channel.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday said an MoU was signed between the ITBP Leh Frontier and the Union Territory’s cooperatives department to create assured market linkages for local farmers, cooperative societies and farmer producer organisations (FPOs).
The lieutenant governor said that the agreement was aimed at overcoming challenges faced by farmers in finding markets for their produce.
“Aimed at creating assured market linkages to local farmers, cooperative societies and FPOs in Ladakh, including those in border villages, a historic MoU was today signed between ITBP Leh frontier and Ladakh cooperatives department,” LG said in his social media post on X.
Under the MoU, vegetables, dairy products and other essential food items will be procured locally through Ladakh’s cooperative societies, FPOs and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) for supply to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Saxena said that the initiative aligned with the vision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to enable Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Army to procure local produce through cooperatives, thereby generating employment and fostering self-reliance in border regions.
“I am confident this initiative will economically empower cooperatives, strengthen rural livelihoods and promote reverse migration, while ensuring fresh and nutritious supplies for ITBP jawans serving in remote areas under harsh conditions,” he said.
Amid growing concerns over drug abuse in Ladakh, the lieutenant governor chaired a comprehensive review meeting with senior government officials, medical experts, civil society members, religious organisations and NGOs to assess the situation and measures required to curb the menace.
Saxena directed authorities to launch a crackdown on drug cartels, conduct random searches of vehicles, including local taxis, maintain strict vigil at Ladakh’s entry points such as Zoji La and Sarchu, and enhance surveillance around schools, colleges and tourist destinations.
He also ordered the establishment of “112” as an integrated helpline for families and patients, with a dedicated team to ensure transport and rehabilitation through coordinated care.
