In the heart of Ladakh, amidst the towering Himalayas, the Ice Stupas stand as remarkable symbols of innovation and sustainability. Conceived by engineer and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, these towering ice structures have revolutionized water storage in the region.
Inspired by traditional Buddhist stupas, Wangchuk’s ingenious method involves pumping water from streams during winter, which freezes into conical structures resembling stupas. As summer arrives, the ice slowly melts, providing a reliable water source for irrigation, thus addressing Ladakh’s chronic water scarcity issue.
Beyond their practical benefits, Ice Stupas have become community-driven projects, fostering collaboration and empowering locals. They reduce reliance on glacial meltwater, mitigating climate change impacts, and extending the growing season. Wangchuk’s holistic approach to environmental activism, including alternative energy promotion and educational initiatives, has earned global recognition.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk’s ‘fast unto death’ protest entered its 17th day on Friday pressing for his demand for constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory of Ladakh, and protection of ecologically fragile Ladakh’s ecosystem from industrial and mining lobbies.
In a post on X, Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based engineer and educator, said, “Happy World Water Day! Beginning the 17th day of my #climatefast. Himalayan glaciars are melting away fast. And our automated artificial glaciers in Ladakh cannot solve this problem. But you can…”
In the video, Wangchuk said the Himalayan glaciers support the lives of two billion people directly or indirectly, which is one-fourth of the population on the planet.
“We here in Ladakh are primary witnesses to the disappearing glaciers in the wake of climate change. In my own life, I have seen glaciers vanish. Glaciers that used to be by the roadside, ones we used to drive over are now hundreds of metres away and above…We have seen them lead to flashfloods and droughts alternately.”
“The impact has been so bad that some of us are forced to invent artificial glaciers, including ice stupas…Now, we are embarking on modern automation…Another advance we are making is that we are making ice dams covering the entire valleys so that these help recharge the groundwater, while themselves be the reservoirs of water,” he said.
The educator, who inspired the Bollywood blockbuster ‘3 idiots’, however, lamented that the people of Ladakh are happy about these development, but they are not at all proud of them.
“Because, these little interventions can’t solve our water problems, melting glaciers. The real solution lies in your hands. You all living in the big cities of the world. If you all live simply, then we in the mountains, may simply live,” he said.
Wangchuk’s protest commenced on March 6 from Leh, Ladakh, where he spoke before a gathering of hundreds of individuals at an elevation of 3,500 meters above sea level. He declared that his protest would unfold in stages, each lasting 21 days.
In June 2023, he undertook a nine-day climate fast to protect Ladakh’s fragile ecology and indigenous communities.
World Water Day 2024
The World Water Day is being celebrated on 22 March. The theme for World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’.