Struggle for water in Kumik village of Zanskar intensifies, forcing inhabitants to migrate to the new village of Lower Kumik.  The village with around 57 families is losing its identity due to climate change. So far, around 20 families have already migrated and got settled in Lower Kumik. Each passing day the situation is becoming worse.

A resident of Kumik village, an 82-year-old man said, “The scarce water problem in Kumik village was from a very long time which is getting worse every year compelling people to abandon their ancestral land and homes. Less snowfall in winters, rapidly receding glaciers, warm spring days are causing water scarcity.”

Kumik villagers are settling down and building a new community from the scratch in Lower Kumik close to the Zanskar river. The river water is made available through a canal built by the villager itself. For drinking purpose, the villagers are depended on water tankers. Abandoning the ancestral land and homes and starting a new life from the scratch was not an easy job. 

 Sharing the challenges and difficulties, Rigzin Stantar, said, “I have migrated here (Lower Kumik) in 2016. It is very challenging to settle in a new place as we have to start from the beginning like constructing a new house and ploughing new agricultural fields etc. The soil is also not so fertile here. Though every household owns land here but many couldn’t migrate due to financial problem.”

 Thukjay Rinchen, Panch, said, “The villagers are leaving their field uncultivated due to water scarcity. Seeing the greenery in the neighbouring villages we often think that how fortunate they are. The situation is getting worse every year but so far we didn’t receive any satisfactory support from the government.” 

“Migration of people leaving their ancestral land is not only lost of house and properties but the history and culture are also being faded”, she added.  

Stanzin Gawa, a student said, “The word global warming is global. It has its impact even in my village in the Himalayas. We have unwillingly migrated here in search of water. Even in this new habitat, we are facing similar challenges when the river water level decreases. I could see the possibilities of growing trees and fields here if we get adequate water.”

There is no denying that climate change is affecting and life of the people is changing. The Kulum village in Leh district and Kumik in Zanskar is a wake-up call to many other such villages of Ladakh facing water scarcity due to the effects of climate change. The migration is real and the time has come to plan and think for a sustainable future.