It all began with Chewang Norphel, a retired civil engineer who, in 1987, introduced the idea of artificial glaciers to slow the flow of water in the winter and allow it to freeze, to be tapped for irrigation in the spring. This idea was simple but revolutionary for Ladakh, a region with harsh winters and limited water sources. These cascade-type artificial glaciers became a lifeline for local farmers, allowing them to grow crops like barley, buckwheat, and vegetables during the critical months of April to June when water was most needed.
However, the real breakthrough came in 2013 when Sonam Wangchuk, a scientist and innovator, introduced the ice stupa. Unlike traditional artificial glaciers, the ice stupa is a vertical conical structure, designed to maximise ice volume while minimising surface area. This design allowed the ice to melt gradually, releasing water over time—ensuring that farmers had a consistent water supply during the critical sowing season. Since 2014, more than 80 ice stupas have been built across Ladakh, providing a reliable water source for local farmers.
The Challenges of Managing Traditional Ice Stupas
While ice stupas were an incredibly innovative solution, managing them proved to be labor-intensive. The water flowing through the pipes often froze at night, especially when temperatures dropped to -15 to -20°C, blocking the entire system. This required villagers to climb up to the stupas, dig through the snow, and manually thaw the pipes. Additionally, each morning, the pipes needed to be moved to sunnier areas to prevent them from freezing again. This process was not only time-consuming but also physically demanding, making the ice stupas difficult to maintain over time.
Automation: A New Era for Ice Stupas
Recognising the limitations of traditional ice stupas, Sonam Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), in collaboration with HDFC Bank’s Parivartan initiative, began developing an automated ice stupa system. This new system uses solar-powered sensors and motorized valves to regulate water flow and prevent blockages from frozen pipes. The system is designed to require minimal human intervention, significantly reducing the labor involved in managing the stupas and improving their efficiency.
The Phyang village in Ladakh became the testing ground for this automated ice stupa system in 2023. The 60-foot-high ice stupa in Phyang can hold 3 million liters of water, providing reliable irrigation throughout the farming season. The system uses real-time weather data to determine when water should be released, ensuring that the ice melts at the optimal rate for irrigation. This innovation has reduced manual labor by 95%, making it much easier for villagers to manage their water resources.
The Automated Ice Reservoir in Igoo
The success of the automated ice stupas in Phyang led to the introduction of an even more advanced system in Igoo. In Igoo, Acres of Ice, a company founded by Suryanarayanan Balasubramanian, has developed the Automated Ice Reservoir (AIR). This innovative system is designed to function remotely with minimal human intervention. The automated ice reservoir is fitted with sensors, valves, and a control panel that uses weather data to regulate the water flow, ensuring that the water inside the reservoir doesn’t freeze when it is not supposed to.
At an altitude of 4,200 meters, the Igoo ice reservoir holds over 4 million liters of water. The system uses solar-powered technology and is designed to reduce water wastage, ensuring that the community has access to irrigation water when needed. This approach is much more efficient than traditional ice stupas, which often waste a lot of water due to freezing in the pipes. In fact, the Igoo system has proven to be 80% efficient in converting water into ice, making it a game changer for water management in Ladakh.
Empowering Local Communities and Addressing Climate Change
The automated ice reservoir in Igoo and the ice stupas in Phyang are not just technological innovations; they are also empowering local communities. In Igoo, villagers have been trained to manage the system, and they now play a crucial role in its day-to-day functioning. The system has significantly reduced the labor required to maintain the ice stupas, giving farmers more time to focus on other essential activities.
Farmers in Igoo have expressed their satisfaction with the new system. Tashi Angchuck, a local farmer, says, “The automated ice stupa is a blessing for us. We no longer have to worry about the labor-intensive process of maintaining the ice stupa. It has become much easier to manage our water resources, and we can now water our fields twice a day, which is crucial for our crops.”
The data collected from these automated systems is also providing valuable insights into climate change and its impact on local water sources. As glaciers continue to melt at an alarming rate due to global warming, automated ice stupas offer a way to harness and store water safely. This technology helps mitigate the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which are becoming a growing concern in the Himalayan region as glaciers recede.
Economic and Environmental Impact
The automated ice stupa systems are not just improving water availability for farming—they are also helping to boost the local economy. In Phyang, the ice stupa has become a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world to see the innovative system in action. Local businesses are capitalizing on this by offering winter tourism activities, such as ice-climbing, creating year-round income opportunities for the community.
Moreover, the reduced need for manual labor in managing the stupas has led to cost savings, making the system more sustainable. These innovations are proving that technology, when combined with traditional wisdom, can address the most pressing challenges faced by rural communities in Ladakh.
A Sustainable Model for the Future
The innovations seen in Ladakh with the automated ice stupas and ice reservoirs show us how technology can be a powerful force in solving real-world problems. These solutions highlight the importance of embracing technology to address local environmental challenges that India—and the world—face today. At Ocean Cleanerz, we are committed to harnessing cutting-edge technology to tackle the pressing issue of plastic pollution in our water bodies. Our Flipper technology is a step toward cleaning our oceans and rivers, just as the ice stupas are providing reliable water for farmers in Ladakh.
At Ocean Cleanerz, we believe that technology has the potential to transform India’s future by providing sustainable, scalable solutions that benefit both the environment and communities. From cleaning plastic waste to managing water resources, we are dedicated to using tech to build a cleaner, stronger, and more sustainable India. Tech for a better India is not just a vision; it’s the key to solving many of India’s most pressing challenges today.
Varun Saikia, Founder- Ocean Cleanerz
References
Aditya Dev, New tech for ice stupas to beat Ladakh water woes, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/new-tech-for-ice-stupas-to-beat-ladakh-water-woes/articleshow/119228263.cms
Nidhi Jamwal, Automatic ice stupa could transform farming in rural Ladakh, https://india.mongabay.com/2024/07/automatic-ice-stupa-in-rural-ladakh-could-be-a-gamechanger/
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