Ladakh, rightly known as ‘the cold desert of India’ is one of the driest places on the Earth. The place hardly receives any rainfall throughout the year except for precipitation in the form of snow. This year the area witnessed an unusually long snow-period with the ice sheets remaining intact even after the end of the Winter season. And who tapped this better than the innovator Sonam Wangchuk- by conducting a village level competition of building ice-stupas. The contest began in December and now will come to an end today on the occasion of ‘World Water Day’ where a winner will be announced with the biggest snow-stupa. In the competition, at least 12 villages are taking part to build the highest ice stupa.
Sonam Wangchuk, who started the competition with an aim to reduce shortage of water in Leh, so that problem related to water supply, faced by Ladakhi farmers due to receding of glaciers, can be reduced to some extent. From next year, the team has planned to build more such artificial glaciers (Ice Stupas) in the area and this effort to a larger scale.
Not just this, the army and the Department of Post has taken the competition a step forward. The army jawans were seeing taking a part in the competition building huge stupas. Department of Post has released a ‘Special Stamp Cover on Ice Stupa’ during a function organized at the Ice Stupa site at Gangles, Leh this Monday. Several officers and dignitaries from Army and civil administration were present on the occasion.
This is one way forward in a more ‘integral’ and ‘smarter’ India united for a better future and a ‘water-sufficient World’. Skymet salutes such efforts and greets everyone on the occasion of ‘World Water Day’.
Image Credits – The Guardian
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