In a significant step towards addressing seasonal water scarcity and strengthening agricultural sustainability in Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on May 27 inaugurated an innovative Rock Check Dam over the River Indus at Upshi in Leh district.

The project, located around 44 kilometres from Leh at an altitude of 11,400 feet, is the first rock check dam of its kind in India and has been conceptualised as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable solution to Ladakh’s water crisis.

Built using large rocks sourced directly from the riverbed and surrounding areas, the check dam has been designed to hold and regulate river water without the use of cement or concrete, making it an environmentally sustainable initiative.

Lieutenant Governor Saxena has named the initiative the “Sindhu Jal Samriddhi Abhiyan” (SJSA), aimed at augmenting water availability by constructing rock check dams at strategic locations along the river, particularly at narrow passages where tapping river water is relatively easier and more effective. The locations for these structures are identified in consultation with local villagers and community members.

Lieutenant Governor has directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to construct three more such check dams within a month on an experimental basis.

In several parts of Ladakh, the Indus River becomes shallow during certain seasons, making it difficult for conventional pumps and motors to lift water to uphill agricultural fields. These rock check dams are expected to play a crucial role by creating pondage areas capable of storing substantial quantities of water for irrigation during the peak sowing season.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said the Sindhu Jal Samriddhi Abhiyan would significantly improve irrigation facilities, strengthen water security, and support sustainable agriculture in remote villages of Ladakh.

“It is another innovative and eco-friendly project aimed at achieving long-term water security in Ladakh after the successful launch of Project Him Sarovar.

The Rock Check Dam has been conceived as a model of sustainable water and agricultural security while preserving the fragile ecological character of Ladakh’s ecosystem. The initiative has received an encouraging response from villagers,” Saxena said.

Unlike conventional cement-concrete check dams, the rock check dam functions as a semi-permanent barrier across the river channel. It slows down the velocity of flowing water and creates a large pondage area while allowing excess water to pass through, thereby generating a cascading effect and improving oxidation in the river.

The rock check dam at Upshi is nearly 200 feet long, with a base width of 30 feet on the riverbed for enhanced stability. The top deck is 15 feet wide and rises approximately five feet above the riverbed. The structure has been specially designed to withstand high water pressure during peak river flow.

Officials informed that the current flow of water in the Indus River is around 25 cusecs (cubic feet per second), which is expected to increase nearly eightfold to around 200 cusecs during July and August. The design of the rock weir ensures that the structure remains stable and does not get washed away even during high discharge periods.

Remarkably, the construction of the check dam was completed within just seven days, from May 12 to 18, 2026, during which the Lieutenant Governor conducted three site visits to monitor the progress of the project.

Nearly 180 metric tonnes of rocks, each weighing between 500 kilograms and 10 metric tonnes, were carefully interlocked within the riverbed to construct the check dam.

The structure has successfully created a vast pondage area extending nearly 1,500 feet (approximately 500 metres) upstream, storing an estimated 40 million litres of water. The water depth along the riverbanks measures around four to five feet, while the depth in the middle of the river reaches nearly 10 feet.