Goyat, Vijay Kumar creator text U.S.I. Journal monographic eng

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154(636), Apr-Jun, 2024: p.240-250 Ladakh, a high-altitude desert with extremely low precipitation, a popular tourist destination and a unique geographical heritage. It is also at the centre of Indo–China boundary dispute. The challenges of water management in the region are low rainfall, high influx of tourists, increasing infrastructure, and heavy dependence on groundwater without adequate replenishment. Thus, water storage is essential and certain eco-friendly methods such as artificial glaciers or ice stupas have been tried. These methods are manpower intensive, less efficient and need recurring annual effort. Very small-scale check dams on various streams can be an effective means to store water and will automatically freeze in winter. The check dams are fairly easy to construct with a simple design and low water height along with adequate pondage. These check dams will help meet water requirements in an efficient and eco-friendly manner as well as facilitate groundwater recharge, besides being suitable sites for winter skiing and potential tourist spots. The approximate cost of one such check dam is likely to be INR 8.10 C. – Reproduced https://www.usiofindia.org/pdf/20240712152228.pdf U.S.I. Journal 240821