VOL News Desk/ PON PAYALO SOCIETY CHANIGOUND Leads the Way in Ladakh High above the Indus, in the cold desert of Kargil district, the villagers of Chanigound are quietly building a new kind of glacier. Their Ice Stupa rises from the valley floor like a frozen sculpture, made not by nature alone but with carefully designed pipes, sprinklers and sensors. For the second year in a row, PON PAYALO SOCIETY CHANIGOUND is running an automated Ice Stupa project to secure life‑saving water for the coming summer.Last winter, the team successfully stored an estimated 8 million litres of water in the form of ice. This season, with improved engineering and data‑based control, they are aiming for 20 million litres.

Automation now regulates water flow and spray time so that every cold night is used efficiently; instead of wasting winter runoff, it is frozen into a tall, dense structure that melts slowly just when farmers need it most. In a region where climate change is shrinking glaciers and disturbing snowfall patterns, such artificial glaciers are becoming an essential adaptation tool. Ladakh’s villages depend heavily on snowmelt for drinking water, vegetables and fruit orchards, especially apricots that support many household incomes. As natural ice reserves retreat, springtime water scarcity threatens crops and the very sustainability of mountain agriculture. Ice Stupas extend the melt period, releasing stored water gradually through April and May, stabilising irrigation at the start of the growing season and reducing the risk of sudden floods or dry spells.

Projects like Chanigound’s show how local innovation can strengthen resilience in one of the regions most exposed to global warming. Behind this effort stands a committed community team. PON PAYALO SOCIETY acknowledges the crucial partnership with Mr Basit, co‑founder from ACERS of Ice Foundation, who supplied the automation system and provided intensive technical training. With his support, local volunteers have learned to manage sensors, valves and data loggers, turning youth from Chanigound into on‑ground climate technologists. The group hopes to collaborate on more sites in the future, creating a network of Ice Stupas across Kargil and beyond.

The Chanigound initiative also carries a wider message. The team is calling on Ladakh’s young people to step forward, study water and climate technologies, and lead community projects rather than waiting for outside solutions. They urge Kargil’s administration to back these efforts with awareness campaigns, training programmes and small grants so that more villages can adopt winter water storage. As temperatures rise and old patterns break down, the frozen towers of Chanigound stand as symbols of hope—proof that with science, solidarity and local leadership, mountain communities can still shape their own future.

Regards

Shabir Hussain

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President

PON PAYALO SOCIETY CHANIGOUND KARGIL

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Voice of Ladakh or its editorial team.