Ladakh Taps Glacier Stream to Revive Shrinking Tso Kar Lake
Ladakh has begun channelling glacier water from the Rupsho Kharnak stream into Tso Kar, which has lost nearly 70% of its area in a decade.
Tso Kar, one of Ladakh's iconic high-altitude lakes, has shrunk dramatically over the past decade, losing close to 70 per cent of its water spread. The Union Territory administration has now launched an ambitious effort to channel glacier water into the lake and revive it within a year.
The lake once covered nearly 11,000 acres but now spans only about 3,200 acres. Its decline has rippled through the surrounding ecosystem: fewer migratory birds are arriving, and grazing grounds used by local Pashmina goat herders have contracted.
To counter this, the administration is drawing on an untapped source — the Rupsho Kharnak glacier stream, located at an altitude of around 18,045 feet. The stream lies about 11.5 km from Tso Kar and is estimated to carry up to 132 cusecs, or roughly 320 million litres of water a day during summer. At present, this water flows unused into the Sindhu River.
Under the plan, the glacier water will be diverted towards Tso Kar using gravity and a series of natural depressions along the route. The first depression covers around 270 acres, while the second and third span 24 acres and 10 acres respectively. Check dams fitted with RCC pipes will regulate the flow from one depression to the next before the water is finally channelised into the lake. The third depression lies just 400 metres from Tso Kar.
Work underway
The project has moved from planning to execution. Around 20 cusecs of water from the Rupsho Kharnak stream has been diverted to the first depression since September 9, and the administration said about 20 per cent of the depression had filled within four days. The water is being brought through an earthen channel as well as an old concrete canal at the site that has remained defunct since 1995.
The administration expects the first water to reach Tso Kar in the first week of October. The three depressions are expected to hold around 1,230 million litres of water.
New wetlands and bird habitats
Officials say the intervention will have benefits beyond replenishing Tso Kar. The three natural depressions will effectively become new freshwater wetlands, where sediments carried by the glacier water can settle before the water enters the main lake. These new water bodies are also expected to provide additional habitats for migratory birds and could emerge as new tourist attractions, being visible from the adjoining Leh-Manali Highway. Tso Kar has historically been an important habitat for migratory birds, including the black-necked crane.
Pashmina herders among those affected
The shrinking lake has also had a direct impact on local communities. Most villagers around Tso Kar are Pashmina goat herders, and the loss of grazing grounds has reportedly forced some herders to travel 50 to 75 km away from their homes in search of pasture. Officials expect the revival of the lake to help restore grasslands and grazing areas and bring economic benefits to the surrounding communities.
How the project started
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena visited Tso Kar on August 10 and was informed by local villagers and the village head about the lake's shrinking water spread and declining bird population. The Public Health Engineering department subsequently conducted a survey and submitted its report on August 30, proposing an 11-km RCC channel to bring water to the lake.
However, the administration said Saxena advised against building a new concrete channel, citing ecological concerns. Instead, a simple earthen channel was chosen to divert the water to the first depression. Work began on September 2, ahead of the onset of winter.
One-year target
The administration expects the glacier-water intervention to fully revive Tso Kar by around October 2027. Saxena said the project could serve as a blueprint for ecological restoration in high-altitude regions.
"By redirecting the Rupsho Kharnak stream, we aim at bringing life back into Tso Kar Lake," he said.
The administration has described the project as the first attempt of its kind and scale in India to revive a dying lake at such a high altitude and under such harsh climatic conditions.