After discussing the points regarding Leh’s groundwater in Half 1, it’s time to spotlight a few of the actionable options out there for the native administration, companies, and residents. Addressing the gargantuan extraction of Leh’s groundwater and enhancing its high quality would require a mix of recent options and leveraging conventional methods of water administration.
Beginning out, Dr Lobzang Chorol — who earlier this yr accomplished her PhD from IIT-ISM, Dhanbad, after learning Leh’s groundwater methods for over six years — advocates for stricter regulation of groundwater extraction. Whereas a few of the measures she has listed beneath are already being carried out to some extent because of the Union Authorities-sponsored Jal Jeevan Mission, extra must be executed on warfare footing to make sure long-term outcomes.
1. Necessary permits: All people, companies, and establishments must be required to acquire permits for drilling borewells and extracting groundwater. Permits must be granted based mostly on an intensive evaluation of the native groundwater assets and the sustainability of extraction. Authorities, together with the Public Well being and Engineering Division, should mandate an intensive web site inspection earlier than granting permissions for the development of latest borewells or septic tanks.
2. Metering of groundwater utilization: The set up of water meters must be made obligatory for all groundwater extraction factors. It will assist monitor and regulate groundwater utilization, making certain that extraction stays inside sustainable limits.
3. Pricing of groundwater: Introduce a pricing mechanism for groundwater utilization to discourage extreme extraction and promote conservation. This may be within the type of a groundwater tax or a tiered pricing system based mostly on consumption ranges.
4. Zoning laws: Implement strict zoning laws to regulate the density of borewells and forestall over-extraction in vital groundwater recharge areas. This will contain establishing ‘no-go’ zones the place groundwater extraction is prohibited or restricted.
5. Strict enforcement of waste disposal laws: Implement stringent laws on the disposal of stable waste, sewage, and industrial effluents to stop contamination of groundwater. This could embody obligatory remedy of waste earlier than disposal, common monitoring of disposal websites, and hefty fines for motels and different companies discovered dumping waste — together with expired cement into water our bodies. Furthermore, clear tips should be set on the minimal distance that should be maintained between borewells and septic tanks, based mostly on the native hydrogeological situations and the potential threat of contamination.
6. Launch a public consciousness marketing campaign: To coach residents in regards to the significance of sustaining the right distance between borewells and septic tanks, and the potential well being dangers related to groundwater contamination.
7. Set up water-efficient fixtures: Encourage motels, guesthouses, and eating places to put in water-efficient fixtures, akin to low-flow taps, promote use of greywater recycling methods, and use handled water for non-potable functions like irrigation and bathroom flushing. They need to even be mandated to bear common water audits, set up rainwater harvesting methods, and obtain monetary incentives like tax cuts in the event that they meet sure water conservation targets.
“To persuade the business to take a position urgently, we have to emphasise each the environmental necessity and the potential for price financial savings via environment friendly water use. Collaborating with eco-tourism certification programmes might present an extra incentive,” she provides.
8. Common monitoring and mapping of groundwater assets: Set up a complete groundwater monitoring community and often map the groundwater assets to evaluate the affect of extraction and inform regulatory choices. This can be a significantly necessary concern given the dearth of concrete information on the size of groundwater extraction in Leh.
Chatting with The Higher India, Dr Farooq Ahmed Dar — assistant professor on the Division of Geography and Catastrophe Administration, College of Kashmir — agrees with this suggestion.
“Lengthy-term monitoring programmes, measuring the tendencies in groundwater ranges, figuring out potential dangers, and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation measures carried out in Ladakh every now and then are essential steps that should be taken,” he notes.
On the dearth of concrete information, Dr Dar notes, “The foremost concern concerning the groundwater and its relationship with completely different environmental elements is the dearth of the information and understanding of its hydrodynamic processes. Understanding the methods, significantly the underground aquifers, is necessary. There’s a essential want to amass information and collect correct and dependable data on groundwater amount, high quality, and stream dynamics.”
“Fashionable instruments and methods like distant sensing, geophysics, tracers, and so forth are extensively used to deal with groundwater issues. For this funding of analysis and improvement (R&D) tasks is important. The results of anthropogenic actions, akin to inhabitants progress, urbanisation, and land use modifications on groundwater assets should be quantified. Integrating superior modelling methods may also help on this course,” he provides.
Radically enhancing Leh’s sewage remedy system
Relating to Leh’s wastewater remedy amenities, the present state is insufficient to satisfy the rising calls for of the inhabitants and to make sure the protection of consuming water.
As Dr Chorol notes, “The prevailing amenities are ageing and lack the capability to deal with the growing quantity of wastewater generated within the metropolis. Important investments are required to improve and develop the water remedy infrastructure in Leh.”
One in every of these steps embody upgrading the prevailing Sewage Therapy Vegetation (STPs) and establishing new ones in areas at the moment not lined by the sewage community. Authorities should additionally put money into superior water remedy applied sciences, akin to membrane filtration, to make sure handled water meets prescribed requirements for protected consumption and environmental discharge.
“We additionally must develop the sewage assortment community to cowl all households and institutions in Leh. Additionally, we have to set up an everyday water high quality monitoring programme to make sure that the handled water meets the prescribed requirements and to promptly establish any potential contamination points,” she says.
The precise funding required to take all these measures will rely upon an in depth evaluation of the present infrastructure and the projected future wants.
Extra importantly, nevertheless, Leh wants a decentralised sewage remedy plan. Whereas a centralised sewage remedy plant could be best, it could certainly face important obstacles given Leh’s mountainous terrain and scattered settlement sample.
Chatting with The Higher India, Dr Chorol says, “After additional consideration, I imagine a decentralised method is perhaps extra appropriate and sensible for Leh.”
Based on her, this contains:
1. Small-scale remedy methods: We might implement a number of smaller remedy amenities strategically situated all through Leh. These might serve clusters of households or neighbourhoods, lowering the necessity for intensive piping throughout troublesome terrain.
2. Superior septic methods: Selling the usage of trendy, environmentally-friendly septic methods for particular person households or small teams of properties might be efficient. These methods can deal with wastewater to a better customary than conventional septic tanks.
3. Constructed wetlands: The place house permits, we might create synthetic wetlands designed to naturally filter and deal with wastewater. This eco-friendly method might work effectively in some areas.
4. Dry bathrooms and composting methods: Given Leh’s water shortage, increasing the usage of waterless rest room methods might considerably scale back the amount of sewage produced. Whereas establishing these bathrooms in the primary city might be troublesome given sure logistical constraints, motels, visitor homes, and homestays in villages ought to do extra to encourage their use.
Implementation of those steps requires detailed mapping of Leh’s settlements and topography, severe and constant group engagement, and collaboration with environmental engineers skilled in high-altitude and cold-climate sanitation. There must be a phased roll-out of every of those steps with pilot tasks in key areas.
“This decentralised method could be extra adaptable to Leh’s distinctive geography and might be carried out extra shortly and cost-effectively than a centralised system. It could even be extra resilient, as an issue in a single small system wouldn’t have an effect on the whole space’s sanitation,” Dr Chorol says.
These steps are vital given how groundwater is primarily utilized by households, industries, motels, and varied establishments, significantly within the Leh city space.
Chatting with Mongabay, Dr Farooq Dar said, “No matter water is pumped from the underground reserves, roughly 93% of that’s used for these functions. Ladakh can be shifting in the direction of self-sufficiency within the meals and crop market.”
“This additionally calls for big [amounts of] water, and for that, folks drill wells. The remainder of the pumped groundwater is sort of 7%, utilized in crop fields, greenhouse vegetation cropping, fruits, and different crops not earlier grown within the area. Groundwater can be pumped by the lodge and guesthouse homeowners as they require recent water for the vacationers around the yr,” he added.
Leveraging native information
Given the rising dependence on groundwater in native agriculture for rising water-intensive crops, it’s essential to hark again to conventional methods of water administration.
As Dr Chorol notes, “The folks of Ladakh have developed an extremely subtle conventional ecological information over generations of dwelling on this harsh, high-altitude setting. Their intimate understanding of native hydrology, revolutionary irrigation methods, and resource-efficient architectural designs are really outstanding.”
“To elaborate on leveraging native information methods for sustainable water use practices, we are able to draw helpful insights from conventional water administration methods like these present in Ladakh. For example, the Ladakhi system of appointing a chhur-pon or ‘water lord’ chosen by villagers demonstrates how native communities can successfully govern their water assets. This mannequin might be tailored to empower native water committees in different areas.”
However how does water historically stream in rural habitations?
In a 2006 paper titled ‘Conventional irrigation and water distribution system in Ladakh’ for Indian Journal of Conventional Information, authors Dorjey Angchuk and Premlata Singh clarify, “The melted snow water from varied rivulets, referred to as kangs-chhu (ice water) merging sooner or later varieties a togpo (stream) that flows via a valley touching many villages linked by the channel, referred to as ma-yur (mom channel). It’s constructed alongside a mountainside that varieties its retaining wall, and is lined with clay to carry the water. That is termed the Ladakhi model of a dyke.”
“At some locations rocks are damaged to permit the passage of water or else the place the rocks are too onerous, a hole poplar or willow trunk, referred to as va-to is minimize into two equal halves to permit the water straightforward passage. Water from the ma-yur is additional diverted into yu-ra (small canals), which irrigates the fields. The purpose from the place togpo water is diverted into ma-yur, and ma-yur water into yu-ra is known as yurgo; and ska is the purpose from the place yu-ra water is diverted to the sector. Water within the ska is additional guided via channels often called snang, which carry the water into the sector.”
In the meantime, the rotational water distribution system (bandabas) in Ladakh ensures honest allocation and might be studied and formalised in different areas to advertise equitable water sharing.
How does it work? Based on Dr Chorol, “The bandabas system is a conventional technique of water allocation that has been practised in Ladakh for hundreds of years.”
Right here’s the way it works on the bottom:
- Villages are divided into sections, every with a delegated water supervisor referred to as a chhur-pon.
- Water from glacial streams is directed right into a community of canals.
- Every part of the village is allotted water for irrigation on a rotational foundation, sometimes for a set variety of hours or days.
- The chhur-pon is accountable for opening and shutting the water channels to make sure honest distribution.
- This rotation is normally decided by the dimensions of land holdings, with bigger farms receiving proportionally extra water time.
- The system is versatile and will be adjusted based mostly on seasonal water availability and crop wants.
- Neighborhood conferences are held to debate and resolve any disputes or modifications wanted within the water allocation.
“Indigenous engineering methods, akin to Ladakh’s intricate canal methods (ma-yur, yu-ra), showcase native ingenuity in adapting to difficult terrains. By learning and making use of such native engineering information, we are able to develop context-appropriate irrigation options elsewhere,” explains Dr Chorol.
However how do these intricate canal methods work?
Ma-yur (mom canal):
- That is the primary canal that diverts water from glacier-fed streams.
- It’s sometimes constructed alongside contour strains to take care of a mild slope for water stream.
- The ma-yur is commonly lined with stones to stop seepage and erosion.
- It might stretch for a number of kilometres, bringing water to a number of villages.
Yu-ra (subsidiary canals):
- These are smaller channels that department off from the ma-yur.
- Yu-ra distributes water to particular person fields or clusters of fields.
- They’re designed to comply with the pure topography, minimising the necessity for pumping.
- Farmers use easy gates or stones to regulate water stream into their fields.
These methods enable locals to adapt to difficult terrains by:
- Utilising gravity for water distribution, lowering the necessity for energy-intensive pumping.
- Maximising the usage of restricted water assets in an arid setting.
- Stopping soil erosion via cautious canal placement and development.
- Permitting cultivation on steep hillsides via terrace farming.
In the meantime, conventional water storage strategies, like the usage of ponds (rdzing) in Ladakh, will be revived and improved to reinforce water safety in water-scarce areas, notes Dr Chorol.
“Particular person households not often assemble their very own pond. Yearly at first of spit (spring), ponds are cleared of silts. Villagers collectively undertake the cleansing operation,” notes Dorjey.
However to develop and implement context-appropriate irrigation methods based mostly on these ideas, sure steps must be taken, argues Dr Chorol:
- Conduct thorough web site assessments to grasp native topography, water sources, and soil situations.
- Have interaction with native communities to include conventional information and practices.
- Design major canals that comply with pure contours and use native supplies for development.
- Implement a community of smaller distribution channels that may be simply managed by farmers.
- Incorporate easy, low-tech water management buildings that may be operated and maintained domestically.
- Promote drought-resistant crops and water-efficient farming methods appropriate for the native local weather.
- Set up community-based administration methods for equitable water distribution and system upkeep.
“Additionally, integrating customary guidelines and practices, like Ladakh’s sa-ka ceremony earlier than the primary watering of the sector, can improve group buy-in for water conservation efforts. The deep ecological information of native farmers, akin to understanding soil moisture (ser) and optimum irrigation timing, will be tapped to enhance irrigation effectivity. Respecting native non secular connections, like the idea in water deities (lhu), can promote conservation ethics,” she notes.
“The sa-ka ceremony can improve buy-in for water conservation efforts by reinforcing the cultural and non secular significance of water, encouraging respectful use. It additionally encourages intergenerational information switch about conventional water administration, promotes shared duty for water assets, and creates a way of possession,” she provides.
Lastly, participatory monitoring approaches, impressed by the surveillance function of the chhur-pon and group members in Ladakh’s water distribution system, can guarantee efficient native oversight of water assets. Any efficient water conservation technique in Leh has to start out by first recognising and empowering these native information methods.
“This implies completely documenting and learning these practices to grasp their underlying ideas and effectiveness. Then, we have to discover methods to include them into up to date water administration plans and insurance policies. Importantly, now we have to determine platforms for knowledge-sharing and co-learning between native communities and exterior specialists, and foster a spirit of collaboration. We should encourage native communities to take care of, revive, and innovate upon their conventional water administration methods,” notes Dr Chorol.
“Most crucially, now we have to make sure that native voices and views are central to the decision-making course of in terms of water useful resource allocation and conservation efforts. The trail to a water-secure future in Leh lies in putting a stability between trendy scientific information and the knowledge embedded in conventional ecological information methods,” she provides.
(Edited by Pranita Bhat; Pictures courtesy Dr Lobzang Chorol, Shutterstock, X/Sahilinfra2, Village Sq.)
