Indus Waters Treaty On Hold, India Builds First Rock Check Dam In Ladakh | India News

Final Up to date:September 04, 2026, 22:53 IST

Ladakh constructed its first rock test dam on the Indus River at Upshi, growing water ranges by 10 toes for irrigation. This aids farmers and aligns with India’s water coverage.

Ladakh picture used for illustration

Farmers in elements of Leh are set to get a extra dependable supply of irrigation after Ladakh constructed a test dam on the Indus River at Upshi. The undertaking is the primary rock test dam constructed throughout the river within the Union Territory and is geared toward making higher use of water out there within the border area.

The construction has been created by inserting pure boulders throughout the river, with out the usage of cement. It has elevated the water stage by round 10 toes, enabling water to be diverted in the direction of agricultural land by the Igoo Phey irrigation canal.

The intervention addresses a long-standing drawback for farmers within the space. Through the spring sowing season, the Indus usually runs at a stage that makes it troublesome to carry water with pumps, notably the place the river passes by deep gorges. In consequence, a number of farming areas have struggled to get sufficient water for cultivation.

The brand new construction has a storage capability of round 40 million litres. This water can now be directed in the direction of village fields, probably lowering the dependence of farmers on the low river circulation through the sowing interval.

The undertaking can be vital within the context of India’s water coverage in the direction of the Indus river system. India has positioned the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, and the development of water-retention infrastructure in Ladakh signifies a higher give attention to utilising the river for communities in India’s border areas.

The Upshi undertaking isn’t anticipated to stay an remoted effort. The Ladakh administration is pursuing further test dams alongside the Indus, with development already going down at some websites and additional tasks being deliberate.

Below a proposal despatched to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, the administration has sought approval for 36 test dams throughout Ladakh. Of those, seven are proposed as Himalayan Rock Test Dams in Leh, whereas Kargil would get 29 RCC test dams or weirs. The tasks are estimated to price greater than Rs 56 crore.

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What’s the function of India’s first rock test dam constructed on the Indus River in Ladakh?

India’s first rock test dam on the Indus River in Ladakh goals to supply a extra dependable supply of irrigation for farmers in Leh by growing the water stage and diverting it to agricultural land through the Igoo Phey irrigation canal. It addresses the issue of lifting water through the spring sowing season and has a storage capability of roughly 40 million liters.

How was the rock test dam in Upshi, Ladakh, constructed?

The rock test dam in Upshi, Ladakh, was constructed by inserting pure boulders throughout the Indus River with out utilizing cement. This eco-friendly and low-cost methodology creates a semi-permanent barrier that slows the river circulation and types a big water pondage space for agricultural use.

What’s the ‘Sindhu Jal Samriddhi Abhiyan’ and who inaugurated it?

The ‘Sindhu Jal Samriddhi Abhiyan’ is an initiative launched by Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor, Vinay Kumar Saxena, with the inauguration of the primary rock test dam on the Indus River in Leh. It goals to supply sustainable and cost-effective options for water and agricultural sustainability in Ladakh.

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Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a ardour for storytelling and a curiosity that extends past the newsroom. She covers each nationwide and worldwide information. For extra tales, you may …Learn Extra

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