Water Distribution Systems And Water Resources In Leh

 Dhir Ashish Doshi, Student of Bachelor of Planning in his final year project, has worked on Water distribution systems and water resources in Leh. The transient nature of tourists leads to over consumption of resources, neglecting the consequences faced by local communities. Consequently, haphazard development driven by tourism in mountainous terrains contributes to soil erosion, habitat loss, forest fires, and other calamities that jeopardize the well-being of the local population. To address these issues, strategic planning and policy formulation are necessary to regulate developmental activities and establish effective resource management policies that prioritize essential resources for local communities. This study focuses primarily on water distribution systems and water resources in ecologically fragile zones burdened by resource limitations due to their geographical constraints. The thesis aims to devise strategies for conserving water channels and rivers, given their heightened importance in extremely fragile terrains. The town of Leh is selected as the focal site due to its significant tourist influx, urbanization, and the challenges it faces regarding water scarcity and basic services. The locational constraints specific to Leh pose a significant hurdle in providing utilities compared to other towns. Therefore, the thesis aims to research the impact of tourist-driven urbanization on Leh's water infrastructure and propose interventions through a sustainable water distribution system and policymaking to prevent exploitation of scarce water resources.