LEH, Sep 30: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved four new water-infrastructure projects for Kargil district aimed at strengthening water security and improving the availability of water for drinking and agricultural needs.
The Lieutenant Governor has also directed the release of Rs 5 crore for developing water infrastructure at Hunderman village, described in the release as the last Indian village on the India-Pakistan border. The decision follows his recent visit to the village, during which local residents raised concerns regarding inadequate water supply.
Four projects have been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 3.20 crore. These include construction of a tunnel at Apati Nallah, an earthen channel to divert snow-melt water from Musbar Nallah to Sharcha Nallah, and construction of new earthen ponds at Barchay and Apati under Project Him Sarovar.
The approvals followed a review meeting of the PHE/I&FC Department held at Lok Niwas on September 12, 2026. During the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor directed the department to prepare Detailed Project Reports for the proposed works. The department subsequently prepared the DPRs for all four projects.
According to the administration, the projects are aimed at improving local water infrastructure through better diversion, storage and utilisation of available water resources, including seasonal snow-melt water.
The initiatives are part of the UT Administration’s efforts to strengthen water security in Ladakh, particularly considering the region’s challenging geography, fragile ecology, limited water resources and dependence on seasonal availability.
“Water security is one of the foremost priorities of the UT Administration,” said L-G Saxena, stressing the need to conserve, store and efficiently utilise available water resources for both drinking and agricultural purposes.