Sonam Wangchuk Builds 90 Ice Stupas
- Sonam Wangchuk to build 80 to 90 ice stupas in Phyang village
- Ice stupas to store 1 billion liters of water
- Water to irrigate 600 hectares of desert
- Each ice stupa to be over 30 meters tall
- Project to cost an additional $100,000
Engineer Sonam Wangchuk has invented a way to bring glaciers to the people by building artificial ice pyramids, or ice stupas, in India's Ladakh region.
The ice stupas, which can be over 30 meters tall, store water that melts slowly, ensuring a steady water supply.
Officials said the project aims to build 80 to 90 ice stupas in Phyang village, which will store 1 billion liters of water, enough to irrigate 600 hectares of desert.
The Ice Stupa Project
The ice stupa project was initiated by Sonam Wangchuk, who founded the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) in 1988.
Wangchuk began experimenting with building ice into pyramids in winter to see how long they took to melt.
The ice stupas, which resemble the conical Buddhist stupas, are built using a pipeline system that freezes water into a pyramid-shaped structure.
Sources confirmed that the pipeline system will last for a hundred years, making it a sustainable solution to the water scarcity problem in Ladakh.
Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh
The success of the ice stupa pilot led to the establishment of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), an alternative educational institute for older students.
Chetsang Rinpoche, the Buddhist leader, donated land from the Phyang monastery for the institute.
The institute aims to provide a sustainable livelihood for the people of Ladakh while solving the problems of mountain regions.
Experts said that the HIAL will play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development in the region.
The Impact of Ice Stupas
The ice stupas have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of people living in the mountainous regions of Ladakh.
The steady water supply provided by the ice stupas will enable farmers to irrigate their land, leading to increased crop production.
Witnesses said that the ice stupas have already started to show positive results, with some farmers reporting an increase in their crop yield.
Government sources said that the project will be replicated in other regions of the country to combat water scarcity.
The Future of Ice Stupas
The future of the ice stupa project looks promising, with plans to build more ice stupas in the coming years.
Sonam Wangchuk said that the project will require an additional $100,000 to build the remaining ice stupas.
Once the pipes are laid, frozen ice pyramids can be built year after year without pumping in more money.
Officials said that the project will be completed in the next few years, providing a sustainable water source to the people of Ladakh.