Now Reading: Ladakh seeks Rs 56 crore check dams for 18,600 acres irrigation
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Ladakh seeks Rs 56 crore check dams for 18,600 acres irrigation
The Ladakh administration has submitted a proposal to the Union Jal Shakti ministry for constructing 36 check dams to boost irrigation in the Union Territory. The project, estimated at over Rs 56…
The Ladakh administration has submitted a proposal to the Union Jal Shakti ministry for constructing 36 check dams to boost irrigation in the Union Territory. The project, estimated at over Rs 56 crore, includes seven Himalayan rock check dams in Leh and 29 RCC check dams in Kargil.
The administration has sought inclusion of the proposal under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. Officials said the check dams would irrigate more than 18,600 acres of land and create average storage capacity of 25-30 million litres of water in shallow river stretches.
Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said recent water diversion initiatives had shown that simple, cost-effective interventions could transform agriculture. Currently, less than one percent of the region's annual snow and glacial meltwater is utilised.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Ladakh's irrigated area is tiny relative to its glacier-fed water resources, and the region faces acute water stress during the short growing season. Check dams are low-cost structures that slow runoff and recharge shallow aquifers, offering a proven solution in cold deserts. The 18,600-acre target is significant: it would more than double the current irrigated area in parts of Kargil and Leh. The next step is the ministry's clearance under PMKSY, which will determine whether the project gets funded in the current fiscal year.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
