Leh, July 25:  Dr Pawan Kotwal, Advisor to Hon’ble LG, UT Ladakh, inaugurated a one-day orientation programme on springshed management in Ladakh as part of Water Vision 2047 of the UT Ladakh at Deputy Commissioner Conference Hall, Leh.

During the inaugural speech, Dr. Kotwal emphasized the importance of conserving springshed and highlighted the significance of reservoirs to store water. The objective of the program was to discuss the springshed management concept, context, complexities, challenges, benefits, institutional requirements, and the action plan.

Commissioner/Secretary, PHE/I&FC, Shri. Ajeet Kumar Sahu delivered the opening remarks by stating the objective of the program. He emphasized research and awareness and community-based pilots with a focus on scaling springshed management program. Secretary to Hon’ble LG and Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture, Ravinder Kumar, and Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Leh Santosh Sukhadeve, also made special remarks on the programme.

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This workshop brought together more than 50 participants from the Ladakh Administration, several Ladakh-based organisations, and experts from Ladakh Ecological and Environmental Group (LEDeG), Himalayan Institute of Alternative Ladakh (HIAL), Leh Nutrition Project (LNP), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Jammu, ACWADAM, Savitribai Phule Pune University, and other prominent organisations to share their views and ideas on the topic.

Presentations and discussions in the technical sessions covered key topics such as conceptual understanding of the concept of springshed management, water security challenges and responses in Ladakh with a focus on technological and institutional perspectives, socio-economic considerations, upstream-downstream linkages, and their implications for springshed management, hydrological and geological aspects of springs in Ladakh and digital innovations for springshed management in Ladakh.

Several innovative ideas and approaches for springshed management emerged from the group discussions. Sonam Wangchuk, Founder & Director of HIAL, shared his thoughts and initiatives on water conservation. He mentioned artificial glaciers, methods for freezing and storing water in the winter, pumping water from nearby streams, spraying it through an intricate network of pipes, creating swales and barrier walls into steams for recharging groundwater by reducing the flow of the stream, etc. He also emphasised the importance of decentralised wastewater treatment and drip irrigation in order to improve water use efficiency. The administration, local organizations and community members need to work collaboratively. Ajeet Kumar Sahu concluded the workshop by highlighting the need for innovative water management solutions to replenish local mountain springs and enhance water security in the region.

In addition, Sahu directed agencies to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) and guidelines for mapping springs. He also suggested agencies train UT officials on data collection through an app, water discharge measurement, and the preparation of pilot project proposals for the next action plan.

The program was organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in partnership with International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) as part of SDC’s Strengthening Climate Change Adaptation (SCA)-Himalaya project.