ICE STUPAs - Ladakh
Leh lies in the cold desert region and most villages in the region face acute water shortage, particularly during the two crucial months of April and May when these is little water in the streams whereas in June there is an excess of water and even flash flooding due to the fast melting of the snow and glaciers in the mountains.
The problem magnified with Himalayan glaciers disappearing due to global warming and local pollution.
In efforts to counter this water crisis, Chewang Norphel (also known as the Iceman of India) devised a simple idea that stored melting water from the glaciers and freeze it into an artificial glacier which would then melt during the spring period providing water to the villagers at the right time. Sonam Wangchuk started working on a better approach leading to the development of the Ice Stupa Project.
