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  The Ice Man of Ladakh

The Ice Man of Ladakh

Published : Feb 13, 2016, 10:54 pm IST
Updated : Feb 13, 2016, 10:54 pm IST

Chewang Norphel, 80, used his engineering expertise to build artificial glaciers to solve the water scarcity of Ladakh.

LEAD1.jpg
 LEAD1.jpg

Chewang Norphel, 80, used his engineering expertise to build artificial glaciers to solve the water scarcity of Ladakh.

Ladakh, with its breathtaking mountains, ancient monasteries and blue sky, is a traveller's paradise. However, the local people who grapple with the problem of inadequate water supply would not have the same rosy picture to paint. That is why Chewang Norphel, 80, who is from the region, put his engineering expertise to good use and created artificial glaciers to ensure water for the residents of this cold and dry mountainous region. Norphel earned the title of ‘Ice Man of India’ for his efforts and was awarded the Padma Shri.

Norphel started his journey in 1960 as a civil engineer in the Rural Development Department of Jammu & Kashmir and retired from service in 1996. Armed with hands-on experience in building roads, bridges, construction sites and water conservation for over four decades, he decided to use his skills for a noble cause. He says, “Throughout my life, I have been living in a land of high passes that did not support any sort of cultivation of crops and had a perennial problem of inadequate water supply. Building dams in such a terrain was a difficult task due to the lack of finances and the environmental fallout that the construction would cause. That is why I decided to build artificial glaciers to provide water to the farmers during the sowing season.”

Reportedly, his efforts have helped over 113 rural villages in Ladakh, out of which 80 are dependent on the artificial glaciers for irrigation. The biggest glacier created by him is approximately 1,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, with an average depth of 4 feet, situated near the village of Phuktsey. “An artificial glacier is five times cheaper than a cemented water reservoir. The average cost of one is between Rs 10-15 lakh, depending on the site. The technique helps in recharging the ground water and rejuvenates the spring water in the villages,” explains Norphel.

At 80, he will find him mostly doing gardening or reading religious books but he is also planning his next project. “Ladakh region is mostly hilly and most of my work sites are inaccessible. In order to reach there, I have to travel on foot. Walking on foot in the mountainous terrains is probably one of the best natural workouts that one can indulge in. That is what keeps me fit and active,” he says.