An innovative rock check dam, aimed at ensuring long-term water and agricultural sustainability in Ladakh, was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena at Upshi in Leh on Wednesday.
The dam, built on the Indus, 44 km from Leh at an altitude of 11,400 feet, has been conceptualised by the L-G as an eco-friendly, cost-effective and sustainable response to Ladakh’s water crisis.
The check dam has been built using large rocks sourced from the riverbed and surrounding areas to hold water in the river. Saxena has named the project “Sindhu Jal Samriddhi Abhiyan”, which aims to augment the water level by creating rock check dams at specific locations, particularly at narrow stretches where tapping river water is relatively easier and more effective.
The site was identified in consultation with villagers. The L-G has directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to construct three more such check dams within a month on an experimental basis.
An official said, “In many parts of Ladakh, the Indus becomes too shallow. As a result, standard motors and pumps fail to lift water from the river to uphill fields. This is where these rock check dams will play a crucial role. These will create a large pondage area, storing ample water for use during the peak sowing season. Since the rocks have been sourced directly from the riverbed, no cement or concrete has been used in the construction. This makes it a completely eco-friendly project.”
The L-G said the Sindhu Jal Samriddhi Abhiyan would help improve irrigation facilities, strengthen water security and support sustainable agriculture in remote villages.
“It is another innovative and eco-friendly project, aimed at achieving long-term water security in Ladakh after the successful launch of Project Him Sarovar. The rock check dam has been conceived as a model of sustainable water and agricultural security, while preserving the fragile ecological character of Ladakh’s ecosystem. The initiative has received an encouraging response from villagers,” he said.
Unlike engineered cement-concrete check dams, a rock check dam is a semi-permanent barrier built across a river channel. It slows the velocity of water and creates a large pondage area upstream, while allowing excess water to flow through, creating a cascading effect and increasing oxidation in the river.
The rock check dam at Upshi is nearly 200 feet long. It has a base width of 30 feet on the riverbed for greater stability, while its top deck is 15 feet wide and five feet above the riverbed. The structure has been designed to withstand high water pressure. At present, the flow of water in the Indus is around 25 cusecs, which is expected to rise nearly eightfold to 200 cusecs during July-August. The design of the rock weir is expected to ensure that it is not washed away when the volume of water increases substantially.
The check dam was completed in just seven days, from May 12 to 18, during which the L-G conducted three site visits to oversee the project. Nearly 180 MT of rocks, each weighing between 500 kg and 10 MT, were meticulously interlocked within the riverbed to construct the dam.
The check dam has created a pondage area stretching up to 1,500 feet upstream and storing nearly 40 million litres of water. The depth of water on the edges of the river is four to five feet, while in the middle it goes up to 10 feet.
