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Despite mountains being the global storehouse of fresh water (in the form of glaciers), the communities residing in them have to struggle with a severe shortage of water, both potable, as well as for irrigation. Nowhere does this cause greater hardships for habitation and livelihoods than in the cold desert regions of the Himalayas. The reasons vary from climatic to geographic to human-induced ones. Depleting water resources are manifest in the form of thinning/retreating glaciers, sedimentation of water harvesting structures, etc. In these Trans-Himalayan regions, the main form of precipitation is snow, but barely 10 inches or less per year (in comparison to the plains, say, where it is 200 inches, on an average). The economy of these regions is based primarily on agriculture, but the cultivation period in these regions is very short for they lie snow covered for a little less than half-a-year. Water for irrigation comes almost totally from glaciermelt transported over long distances through small channels, locally known as kuhls. However, the high levels of seepage loss in the process, inadequacy in numbers, skewed distribution and lack of corresponding increase with addition in cultivable lands has not only brought down the irrigation efficiency to 50-60% but has led to diminishing land utilisation and crop productivity. Despite the existence of indigenous water management techniques, these have become grossly inadequate for present needs.
The Pragya Project on‘Water Management in the Himalayan Cold Deserts’ addresses the problem of water inadequacy and improper management by the community in the cold desert pockets of the Western Indian Himalayas. It attempts to develop a model for water management in cold desert regions incorporating the best of effective traditional water sharing methods and appropriate technological inputs for enhanced effectiveness. It includes:
with high silt load handling capacity, artificial glacier construction
The project is being executed in the cold desert pockets of Lahaul & Spiti (Himachal) and Ladakh (Jammu & Kashmir).
Assessment of the hydrological status of the target region
~ Using appropriate research tools a detailed survey was carried out in the target districts including community based assessment and primary & secondary data collection for each bio-geographic area, focusing on understanding of the water management issues and context. A study-cum-evaluation is also being carried out of the existing irrigation sources, network of
Traditional Water Management Practices & Systems
~ A detailed documentation has 
been done of the traditional knowledge and practices in the management of water in terms of transportation & storage systems, water usage & sharing mechanisms and institutions, eliciting the support of village council members, government officials, elders, local experts, etc. The continued effectiveness of these practices is being evaluated jointly by select community experts and the Pragya ApTech Team.
Water Use Audit & Budgeting
~ Community meetings were held for orienting the community towards the ill effects of degradation/depletion of water resources and the potential for managing it. Following it, community-based water management plans are to be developed. Community structures for water management will be created and implemented in one village (Poh, in Spiti) as a pilot case. Training is to be imparted to key users and functionaries in the village on appropriate water management practices as well as, institution management and role handling.
Construction of Artificial Glacier
~ The technique of harvesting snow by creating artificial glaciers in the winter months is being pilot-tested by the Pragya ApTech team for the first time in Spiti valley. In the village of Poh situated at around 10,500 ft., the water from the upstream nallah, around 100 ft. away, is being diverted into a reservoir constructed under the natural shadow of a towering rockface, which would begin freezing with the onset of December. 
The reservoir, whose other three sides consist of crete walls and metal-wire mesh filled with boulders has a capacity to store more than 625 kl. of snow. The site is free from the risk of landslides. As per estimates, this should thaw at a time when the farmers need the water for irrigation the most.
Installation of Hydrams
~ Engineers at Pragya have identified a new design which takes care of high silt load in the Spiti river, which in the past has been the main factor for the failure of hydrams installed so far in the region. An appropriate site for hydram installation has been selected on the basis of lowest possible fluctuations in the river level and its vicinity to the village.
Model Water Management Plan for Cold Deserts & Dissemination
~ The project would finally develop a model water management plan including water accounting and budgeting and incorporation of appropriate technologies for a select cold desert pocket. Dissemination of cold desert issues & appropriate water management strategies, in published format is to be made to significant stakeholders.
