Ladakh built its first rock check dam on the Indus River at Upshi, increasing water levels by 10 feet for irrigation. This aids farmers and aligns with India’s water policy.
Farmers in parts of Leh are set to get a more reliable source of irrigation after Ladakh constructed a check dam on the Indus River at Upshi. The project is the first rock check dam built across the river in the Union Territory and is aimed at making better use of water available in the border region.
The structure has been created by placing natural boulders across the river, without the use of cement. It has increased the water level by around 10 feet, enabling water to be diverted towards agricultural land through the Igoo Phey irrigation canal.
The intervention addresses a long-standing problem for farmers in the area. During the spring sowing season, the Indus often runs at a level that makes it difficult to lift water with pumps, particularly where the river passes through deep gorges. As a result, several farming areas have struggled to get enough water for cultivation.
The new structure has a storage capacity of around 40 million litres. This water can now be directed towards village fields, potentially reducing the dependence of farmers on the low river flow during the sowing period.
The project is also significant in the context of India’s water policy towards the Indus river system. India has placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, and the construction of water-retention infrastructure in Ladakh indicates a greater focus on utilising the river for communities in India’s border areas.