A mammoth ecological restoration exercise has been undertaken to revive the majestic Tso Kar glacial lake in Ladakh through a pioneering glacier water integration project, described as the first-of-its-kind high-altitude ecological restoration initiative in India.
The project will use natural gravity flow and simple earthworks to channel untapped glacier water into Tso Kar, with nearly 11.5 km of earthen channels being created as part of the intervention.
320 million litres of glacier water to be channelled daily
Under the project, around 320 million litres of glacier water per day, equivalent to 132 cusecs, is being channelled from the Rupsho Kharnak stream, located at an altitude of more than 18,000 feet, towards Tso Kar.
Before reaching the lake, the water will flow through three natural depressions spanning 270 acres, 24 acres and 10 acres respectively. Together, these depressions are expected to hold nearly 1,230 million litres of water, creating three new waterbodies in the process.
Nearly 20 cusecs of water has already been successfully diverted to the first pond since September 9, with the waterbody filling rapidly, according to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
Tso Kar has shrunk by 70% over the last decade
The iconic Tso Kar lake, situated at an altitude of around 15,000 feet, once spanned approximately 11,000 acres. However, it has shrunk drastically by 70 per cent over the last decade.
The decline in the lake’s water spread has also affected the region’s fragile ecosystem. Migratory birds, including the famed Black-necked Crane, have been displaced, while local Pashmina herders have been forced to travel miles away from their homes in search of grazing lands for their Pashmina goats.
The restoration project is expected to help address both ecological and livelihood concerns by replenishing the lake and restoring vital grazing lands.
Project aims to restore lake within a year
The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh said the project was guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ecological restoration as part of India’s future security.
The intervention has the potential to bring Tso Kar back to its original glory within a year, according to the post.
Restoring the lake is also expected to improve the livelihoods of local communities by bringing back grazing lands and enabling Pashmina herders to return to their homes.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that scientific, sustainable and low-cost interventions of this nature could prove to be a decisive step towards long-term climate resilience, ecological integrity, water security and agricultural prosperity.