By Abishkar Upadhya
Leh: Central Goverment’s ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme has brought a sea-change in the lives of the inhabitants of Ladakh and made it easier for them to live in one of the coldest regions of the world that faces severe water crisis during winters due to freezing of water bodies.
But, now the situation has reversed. People are getting water and that too with ease, thanks to community led innovations under JJM scheme.
Umla, a far-off located village in Leh district, witnessed an innovation in the form of greenhouse structure to protect the spring source from freezing. The greenhouse maintains the temperature of spring source above the freezing point and ensures supply of drinking water in extreme cold season.
The success of Umla is being replicated in other villages also.
District Magistrate Leh, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, who is also chairman of District Water & Sanitation Mission (DWSM), informed that under JJM several innovative methods have been adopted to ensure continuous piped water supply to households in every nook and corner of the district.
“It was observed that springs are the main sources of water and they freeze at the source itself. So, we decided to install greenhouse around spring source to keep it warm. This technique worked and water source didn’t freeze and we are now able to maintain water supply in winters as well,” he explained.
He further said that greenhouse model of Umla was successfully replicated in other villages so as to ensure drinking water supply to maximum possible households. He, however, credited the success of this idea to the team work of Pani Samiti and PHE Ladakh officials who work with missionary zeal to make round the year tap water supply a reality in entire Ladakh region.
The villagers have expressed gratitude to the district administration for making their lives easy in the ongoing winters.
