LEH, SEPT 19: Ladakh’s five pilot rock check dams, built as an eco-friendly solution for water conservation and agricultural sustainability, have largely withstood water flows exceeding 200 cusecs during peak summer, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said.
In a post on X, Saxena said the five check dams were constructed over the Sindhu River and its tributaries in just four months from May 27, when the water flow was around 20 cusecs. The structures were built entirely with locally sourced riverbed boulders, without cement, concrete or steel.
With winter approaching, the river flow has now dropped to around 30 cusecs. An engineering inspection team was recently deputed to assess the stability of the structures and examine any damage caused by the heavy summer flow.
Saxena said the inspection found that four of the five rock check dams remained intact despite water pressure exceeding 200 cusecs, while the first dam at Upshi near Leh suffered a minor breach. The damaged portion, he said, is being repaired by engineers.
The inspection further revealed that deposits of fine-quality washed sand upstream had contributed to strengthening and stabilising the rock structures.
Calling the pilot project an important learning experience, the LG said the findings would provide the technical know-how required to make future check-dam projects more robust and reliable.
He also thanked local communities for their support and said the administration would continue to focus on water security, agricultural sustainability and climate resilience across Ladakh.
