AU to find solutions to Churu, Ladakh water scarcity

Prayagraj: The problem of water scarcity in Churu (Rajasthan) and Ladakh in the Union Territory of Leh and Ladakh- will be solved by a team of experts from Allahabad University.
Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) under the Jal Jeevan Mission have assigned the project, worth Rs 10 lakh, to Prof Pawan Kumar Sharma of department of Geography at AU to solve the problem of water scarcity in the two arid regions of the country.
Sharma and his team will study the availability ofunderground water reserves and the viability of the useful traditional techniques of water management that were popular in the extreme weather regions and were used by their forefathers.
"The research in Churu district and cold Ladakh region aims to provide actionable insights and practical recommendations for ensuring a long-term potable water supply in these hydrologically stressed areas," said Sharma.
He is being assisted by a geologist from AU's Centre of Earth and Planetary Sciences, RP Singh, and a watershed management expert from Nagal Chaudhary Girls Govt College, Haryana. "The choice of these regions is grounded in their extreme hydrological stress and the unique climatic challenges they face, making them ideal subjects for a comparative analysis of sustainable water resource management," he said. Churu's water scarcity is compounded by its high population density and agricultural demands, which place additional pressure on the already strained water resources. The challenges faced by Churu district include inadequate water infrastructure, overexploitation of groundwater, and frequent drought conditions. These factors make it a critical area for studying sustainable water management strategies. "Our research aims to identify effective approaches to improve water conservation, and the time has come that we should look back to the traditional ways of water conservation like Bhawadi," said Sharma.
He added that Ladakh faces unique challenges such as the seasonal variability of water supply and the impacts of global warming on glacier melt patterns. The rapid increase in tourism and population growth in recent years has intensified the pressure on its fragile water resources. Ladakh's water management issues are further complicated by its remote location and the logistical challenges of maintaining water infrastructure in a high-altitude environment.
Through the project, necessary data will be made available to the policymakers, which will help in developing accurate and practical solutions for improving water management.