LEH, MAY 14 : In a significant push towards strengthening irrigation infrastructure in the high-altitude cold desert of Ladakh, the Ladakh administration has inaugurated the 2.10 km Mahey Tokpo–Raldho Irrigation Canal in the Changthang region.
Built at an altitude of over 14,000 feet in the remote Nyoma area, the canal has been described as an engineering milestone due to the extreme terrain and climatic conditions under which it was completed. Officials said the project was completed in a record timeframe, with the final 850 metres constructed in just two months after work resumed in March this year following administrative intervention.
The canal, which is fed by Yaya Lake, is expected to provide reliable irrigation and significantly improve agricultural sustainability in the region. It will support irrigation for nearly 100 acres of farmland, offering long-term relief to farmers in one of the most difficult-to-access areas of Ladakh.
Alongside the inauguration, a plantation drive of 15,000 saplings was also launched along the canal stretch. The initiative, supported by Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, aims to enhance soil conservation and improve ecological resilience in the fragile high-altitude ecosystem.
Officials involved in the project have been appreciated for completing the infrastructure under challenging geographical and weather conditions, marking it as a key development step for water security in Changthang.
