New tech for ice stupas to beat Ladakh water woes

LEH: Technology is breaking new ground in the arid reaches of Ladakh. This summer, it will automate water supply from its ice stupas, which the cold desert has come to rely on heavily for drinking and farming as glaciers melt and natural streams dry up because of climate change.

In 1987, when the water crisis had already begun to manifest, civil engineer Chewang Norphel devised artificial glaciers - small dams on mountain slopes that slowed down water flow in winter and allowed formation of ice, which could then be tapped in spring. The Ice Man's groundbreaking work earned him the Padma Shri in 2015. Scientist Sonam Wangchuck improved on this by making the first ice stupa in 2013. These were easier to manage and melted gradually during the critical sowing season. The conical shape ensured it had the least surface area for the maximum volume and melted only on the side that received sunlight. So the stupa lasted a lot longer.

Between 2014 and 2017, 12 stupas were built. Since 2018, more than 80 have come up, 27 of them in the last year, with Ladakh villages seeing in them an effective solution to the water scarcity problem. The ice stupas are a reliable water supply source for three critical agriculture months - April, May and June - for locals to grow crops like barley, buckwheat, vegetables, and fruits like apricots and apples.

However, managing the stupas is extremely labour-intensive, requiring daily monitoring and adjustments. For example, when night temperatures drop too low, reaching -15 to -20 degrees Celsius, it causes the water inside the pipes to freeze, blocking the entire system. Someone must climb up, dig through the snow, and manually unfreeze the pipes. Besides, every morning, the pipes need to be carried to sunny areas to thaw.

Wangchuck's Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), in collaboration with HDFC Bank's Parivartan initiative, has been developing a system since 2023 in Phyang village that automates stupa management by regulating water flow and preventing pipe blockages. The stupa at Phyang, which this reporter visited, is 60 feet high and contains 3 million litres of water.

Nishant Tiku, HIAL project coordinator, said, "We have successfully developed smart stupas that require minimal human intervention. A similar automated system would typically cost Rs 20-30 lakh, but our in-house system has been built at one-tenth the cost. We are working to further reduce it to Rs 1 lakh."

The automated system consists of temperature sensors, humidity sensors, and motorised valves that control water flow. It operates on solar power. The sensors monitor internal pipe temperature and the surrounding environment. If it's too cold, water is diverted to prevent freezing within the pipe. When the conditions are favourable, flow into the pipe gets restored. "People had to visit the stupas at least twice a day to regulate water flow. In extreme conditions, frozen pipes required up to six hours of labour to clear. Automation has reduced manual labour by 95%," said Aman Dedhia, automation specialist at HIAL.

In Phyang, the stupa has become a tourist draw as well. Karma Phunchok, who runs Ice Cafe near the Phyang stupa, said on weekends, at least 500 people visit the site to see the system and setup. Local entrepreneur Konchok Namgyal is collaborating with HDFC Bank and HIAL to start ice-climbing near the stupa. "Many people leave Ladakh in winter due to a lack of employment, but with water conservation and winter tourism, locals can find year-round income sources," Namgyal said.

"The Ice Stupas have proven to be an effective solution for water management in Ladakh. They not only provide a reliable water source but also help communities cope with the effects of climate change" said Nusrat Pathan, Head CSR, HDFC Bank. "As part of HDFC Bank Parivartan, we are committed to supporting innovative solutions that address climate challenges and water scarcity, blending traditional wisdom with modern sustainability practices."

The reporter was in Ladakh on the invitation of HDFC Bank