After discussing the points regarding Leh’s groundwater in Half 1, it’s time to spotlight a few of the actionable options obtainable for the native administration, companies, and residents. Addressing the gargantuan extraction of Leh’s groundwater and bettering 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 12 months accomplished her PhD from IIT-ISM, Dhanbad, after finding out 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 applied to some extent due to the Union Authorities-sponsored Jal Jeevan Mission, extra must be completed on conflict footing to make sure long-term outcomes.
1. Necessary permits: All people, companies, and establishments ought to be required to acquire permits for drilling borewells and extracting groundwater. Permits ought to 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 ought to be made obligatory for all groundwater extraction factors. This may assist monitor and regulate groundwater utilization, guaranteeing 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 may occasionally 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 strong waste, sewage, and industrial effluents to stop contamination of groundwater. This could embody necessary 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 pointers have to be set on the minimal distance that have to be maintained between borewells and septic tanks, based mostly on the native hydrogeological circumstances and the potential danger of contamination.
6. Launch a public consciousness marketing campaign: To teach residents concerning the significance of sustaining the correct 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, similar 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 endure 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 trade to take a position urgently, we have to emphasise each the environmental necessity and the potential for value financial savings by way of environment friendly water use. Collaborating with eco-tourism certification programmes might present a further incentive,” she provides.
8. Common monitoring and mapping of groundwater assets: Set up a complete groundwater monitoring community and commonly map the groundwater assets to evaluate the affect of extraction and inform regulatory choices. This can be a significantly necessary concern given the shortage of concrete knowledge 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 traits in groundwater ranges, figuring out potential dangers, and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation measures applied in Ladakh now and again are essential steps that must be taken,” he notes.
On the shortage of concrete knowledge, Dr Dar notes, “The most important concern concerning the groundwater and its relationship with completely different environmental parts is the shortage of the information and understanding of its hydrodynamic processes. Understanding the methods, significantly the underground aquifers, is necessary. There’s a essential want to accumulate knowledge and collect correct and dependable data on groundwater amount, high quality, and stream dynamics.”
“Fashionable instruments and strategies like distant sensing, geophysics, tracers, and many others are broadly used to handle groundwater issues. For this funding of analysis and improvement (R&D) initiatives is critical. The results of anthropogenic actions, similar to inhabitants progress, urbanisation, and land use modifications on groundwater assets must be quantified. Integrating superior modelling strategies may help on this route,” he provides.
Radically bettering Leh’s sewage remedy system
Concerning Leh’s wastewater remedy services, 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 present services 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 broaden the water remedy infrastructure in Leh.”
One in every of these steps embody upgrading the present Sewage Therapy Crops (STPs) and setting up new ones in areas at present not coated by the sewage community. Authorities should additionally spend money on superior water remedy applied sciences, similar to membrane filtration, to make sure handled water meets prescribed requirements for protected consumption and environmental discharge.
“We additionally have to broaden 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 determine any potential contamination points,” she says.
The precise funding required to take all these measures will depend upon an in depth evaluation of the present infrastructure and the projected future wants.
Extra importantly, nonetheless, Leh wants a decentralised sewage remedy plan. Whereas a centralised sewage remedy plant can be ultimate, it might certainly face vital 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.”
In accordance with her, this contains:
1. Small-scale remedy methods: We might implement a number of smaller remedy services strategically situated all through Leh. These might serve clusters of households or neighbourhoods, decreasing the necessity for intensive piping throughout troublesome terrain.
2. Superior septic methods: Selling using trendy, environmentally-friendly septic methods for particular person households or small teams of houses may very well be efficient. These methods can deal with wastewater to the next customary than conventional septic tanks.
3. Constructed wetlands: The place area 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 using waterless bathroom methods might considerably cut back the amount of sewage produced. Whereas setting up these bathrooms in the principle city can 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, critical and constant neighborhood engagement, and collaboration with environmental engineers skilled in high-altitude and cold-climate sanitation. There ought to be a phased roll-out of every of those steps with pilot initiatives in key areas.
“This decentralised method can be extra adaptable to Leh’s distinctive geography and may very well be applied extra rapidly 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 all the space’s sanitation,” Dr Chorol says.
These steps are vital given how groundwater is primarily utilized by households, industries, motels, and numerous establishments, significantly within the Leh city space.
Chatting with Mongabay, Dr Farooq Dar acknowledged, “No matter water is pumped from the underground reserves, roughly 93% of that’s used for these functions. Ladakh can be shifting in direction of self-sufficiency within the meals and crop market.”
“This additionally calls for enormous [amounts of] water, and for that, folks drill wells. The remainder of the pumped groundwater is almost 7%, utilized in crop fields, greenhouse vegetation cropping, fruits, and different crops not earlier grown within the area. Groundwater can be pumped by the resort and guesthouse homeowners as they require contemporary water for the vacationers around the 12 months,” he added.
Leveraging native data
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 refined conventional ecological data over generations of residing on this harsh, high-altitude atmosphere. Their intimate understanding of native hydrology, modern irrigation strategies, and resource-efficient architectural designs are actually outstanding.”
“To elaborate on leveraging native data methods for sustainable water use practices, we will draw worthwhile insights from conventional water administration methods like these present in Ladakh. As an illustration, 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 may very well 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 numerous rivulets, referred to as kangs-chhu (ice water) merging in some unspecified time in the future types a togpo (stream) that flows by way of a valley touching many villages related by the channel, referred to as ma-yur (mom channel). It’s constructed alongside a mountainside that types 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 laborious, a hole poplar or willow trunk, referred to as va-to is minimize into two equal halves to permit the water simple 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 sphere. Water within the ska is additional guided by way of channels often known as snang, which carry the water into the sphere.”
In the meantime, the rotational water distribution system (bandabas) in Ladakh ensures honest allocation and may very well be studied and formalised in different areas to advertise equitable water sharing.
How does it work? In accordance with 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 scale of land holdings, with bigger farms receiving proportionally extra water time.
- The system is versatile and may 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 strategies, similar to Ladakh’s intricate canal methods (ma-yur, yu-ra), showcase native ingenuity in adapting to difficult terrains. By finding out and making use of such native engineering data, we will develop context-appropriate irrigation options elsewhere,” explains Dr Chorol.
However how do these intricate canal methods work?
Ma-yur (mom canal):
- That is the principle canal that diverts water from glacier-fed streams.
- It’s sometimes constructed alongside contour traces to keep up a mild slope for water stream.
- The ma-yur is commonly lined with stones to stop seepage and erosion.
- It might probably 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 permit locals to adapt to difficult terrains by:
- Utilising gravity for water distribution, decreasing the necessity for energy-intensive pumping.
- Maximising using restricted water assets in an arid atmosphere.
- Stopping soil erosion by way of cautious canal placement and building.
- Permitting cultivation on steep hillsides by way of terrace farming.
In the meantime, conventional water storage strategies, like using ponds (rdzing) in Ladakh, may be revived and improved to reinforce water safety in water-scarce areas, notes Dr Chorol.
“Particular person households hardly ever assemble their very own pond. Yearly firstly 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 know native topography, water sources, and soil circumstances.
- Interact with native communities to include conventional data and practices.
- Design fundamental canals that comply with pure contours and use native supplies for building.
- 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 regionally.
- Promote drought-resistant crops and water-efficient farming strategies 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 sphere, can improve neighborhood buy-in for water conservation efforts. The deep ecological data of native farmers, similar to understanding soil moisture (ser) and optimum irrigation timing, may be tapped to enhance irrigation effectivity. Respecting native religious connections, like the assumption 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 religious significance of water, encouraging respectful use. It additionally encourages intergenerational data switch about conventional water administration, promotes shared accountability for water assets, and creates a way of possession,” she provides.
Lastly, participatory monitoring approaches, impressed by the surveillance position of the chhur-pon and neighborhood 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 data methods.
“This implies totally documenting and finding out these practices to know 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, we’ve to ascertain platforms for knowledge-sharing and co-learning between native communities and exterior consultants, and foster a spirit of collaboration. We should encourage native communities to keep up, revive, and innovate upon their conventional water administration methods,” notes Dr Chorol.
“Most crucially, we’ve to make sure that native voices and views are central to the decision-making course of in relation to water useful resource allocation and conservation efforts. The trail to a water-secure future in Leh lies in placing a stability between trendy scientific data and the knowledge embedded in conventional ecological data methods,” she provides.
(Edited by Pranita Bhat; Pictures courtesy Dr Lobzang Chorol, Shutterstock, X/Sahilinfra2, Village Sq.)
