Water crisis forces Ladakh villagers to abandon homes; Him Sarovar project promises relief
Kargil, October 17:Acute water scarcity has forced villagers in the high-altitude Sodh block of Kargil to abandon their homes and migrate elsewhere, with the prolonged crisis devastating agriculture and threatening rural livelihoods.
Two new water reservoirs under Project Him Sarovar are now expected to address the problem and help residents return to a water-secure future.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Kavinder Gupta Saxena laid the foundation stones for the two water bodies, which will collectively store 60–70 lakh litres of water. The reservoirs are expected to be completed by the end of November.
The project envisages channelising nearby glacier streams to supply water to villages, ensuring availability throughout the year and supporting agriculture and other rural livelihoods. The initiative is also aimed at reversing migration caused by the lack of this basic necessity.
During his visit to Sodh on September 2, 2026, along with Lok Sabha MP Haneefa Jan, Saxena had witnessed the severe water shortage and its impact on local agriculture. He subsequently directed the district administration to identify potential water sources, including nearby glacier streams, that could be channelised to meet the requirements of the affected villages.
The administration expects the reservoirs to provide a sustainable solution to the longstanding crisis and reduce the hardship faced by residents of the remote, high-altitude settlements.
Expressing gratitude for the response of the local people, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta Saxena said, “I reaffirm the UT Administration’s steadfast commitment to people-centric development and am ensuring a thriving, water-secure future for Ladakh.”
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