In an effort to address its increasing water scarcity, Ladakh has started constructing community reservoirs to store snowmelt and glacial water. During the summer, water rushes in and out of this high-altitude, frigid desert. Even if there are shortages for the majority of the year, a large portion of the seasonal melt rushes past villages and is lost downstream.
The administration is currently working to collect and store the water for year-round consumption under "Project Him Sarovar," which was introduced on April 10. With assistance from the army, ITBP, BRO, and local communities, including religious leaders, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena is carrying out the initiative.

According to people acquainted with the rollout, 50 water bodies are already under construction in the first phase, with 20 in Kargil and 30 in Leh. The goal is to establish 100 water bodies within a year.
Each reservoir, which is about 2 meters deep and 40 by 30 meters in size, is intended to hold rainwater, snowmelt, and glacial melt that would otherwise be wasted.
In Ladakh's delicate cold desert, where water availability is extremely seasonal, these structures are thought to be essential because they are economical, scientifically developed, and include traditional water saving techniques.
The first water body developed, opened, and operationalised under Project Him Sarovar is already in use at Stok hamlet, which is close to Leh.The reservoir was filled with glacial water on April 17. Constructed in just three weeks following the initial site visit on March 26, the structure is 1,824 square meters in size and has a capacity of around 35 lakh litres of water—enough to irrigate almost 150 hectares of land.
With the active assistance of locals, several departments cleaned, dredged, stone-pitched, and fortified a badly silted natural depression to create the reservoir.
In Leh, work is being done in a number of areas. Cleaning, dredging, and retaining wall building are underway at Matho village, while development of four water bodies at Spituk Pharka started on April 10, according to officials, indicating coordination between several departments.

The water problems in Ladakh are not new. The area is largely dependent on snowmelt and glaciers and receives very little rainfall. However, unpredictable snowfall and receding glaciers have started to interfere with water supply in recent years.
Sowing cycles and crop yields are being impacted by the growing discrepancy between water availability and demand in many regions.
In Ladakh, attempts to preserve water, including man-made glaciers and ice stupas, have been around for a while, but they have mostly been modest, regional fixes.
The scope and speed of Project Him Sarovar, which aims to construct 100 reservoirs in a year with support from numerous organisations and community involvement, are what make it unique.