Empowering Ladakh’s Water Management: Sahu inaugurates 5-Day Training Program to Pave the Path to Sustainable Development

Experts of National Water Academy Pune and Central Water Commission would train Ladakh’s Engineers to hone their DPR Preparation Skills for Effective Project Execution

Leh, June 05: Today, a comprehensive 5-day training program from June 5 to June 9, 2023, on ‘Familiarisation with DPR Preparation of SMI, FMP, AIBP, RRR Projects’ began in Leh. The program is organized by the PHE/I&FC Department of the Union Territory of Ladakh in collaboration with the National Water Academy (NWA) Pune and Central Water Commission. Its objective is to enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants in effectively preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for various water management projects.

Inaugurating the training program, Commissioner/Secretary, PHE Ajeet Kumar Sahu, expressed gratitude to the officers and experts of National water Academy and Central Water Commission, for conducting this program. In his address, Mr Sahu emphasized the significance of efficient water management in the ecologically sensitive and fragile region of Ladakh, highlighting the challenges posed by climate change and the receding glaciers. He stressed the need to view water as a precious commodity and emphasized the importance of effective engineering techniques to maximize water utilization.

Commissioner/Secretary, PHE, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, further shared his vision for a comprehensive water policy for Ladakh, emphasizing the sustainable fulfilment of water needs in the region by 2047. He underscored the importance of irrigation in the rural economy and called upon the engineers to focus on outcome-oriented irrigation projects that enhance agricultural productivity and boost the overall economy. The Commissioner/Secretary also highlighted innovative initiatives taken up in the Union Territory such as solar irrigation projects, mobile pumping stations, and water conservation technologies like zing (Ponds) and artificial glacier technology which are operationally, financially, and environmentally sustainable.

The inaugural session was attended by esteemed guests including Chief Engineer, NWA, D.S. Chaskar; Director, NWA, S.N. Pande; Director, Central Water Commission (CWC), Ravi Ranjan; Director, CWC, N.N. Rai; Deputy Director, NWA, G. Srinivasulu; and Deputy Director, NWA, G. Srinivasulu. They provided an introduction to the program, setting the stage for an informative learning experience.

Director IBO CWC, Ravi Ranjan, delivered an exhaustive overview of Detailed Report Presentation and Central Water Commission (CWC) guidelines, equipping the participants with essential insights into effective project planning and execution. Director CWC, N.N. Rai, addressed the participants from a hydrological perspective, focusing on topics such as FER Unit hydrograph and SCS Unit Hydrograph on HEC-HMS.

During the program, the participants received a comprehensive training on ‘Survey and Investigation for Preparation of DPR’ by AD II, IBO CWC, Ankush Kumar. Deputy Director CWC, Ms. Chetna, provided a detailed presentation on ‘Catchment Delineation and Physiographic Parameter Estimation using Arc GIS, Hypsometry Curve.’ Additionally, Deputy Director CWC, Payal Goyal, conducted hands-on training on Arc GIS software for the attendees.

The Deputy Commissioner of Leh expressed hope that the training program would be highly beneficial to the engineers and contribute to their professional growth. He anticipated fruitful outcomes from the program, enabling the engineers to approach projects from a holistic engineering perspective.

The 5-day training on ‘Familiarisation with DPR Preparation of SMI, FMP, AIBP, RRR Projects’ aims to equip the participants with valuable knowledge and skills necessary for effective project planning and execution in the water management sector. With the collaboration between the PHE/I&FC Department UT Ladakh and the National Water Academy Pune, this program aims to contribute to the sustainable development of Ladakh’s water resources.