Lok Sabha Question No. 422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Shortage of Water for Irrigation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Mohmad Haneefa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 422

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02 ND  December, 2025

## SHORTAGE OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION

## 422. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of the recurring drought-like conditions in various parts of Ladakh, due to reduced snowfall, glacial retreat, and rising temperatures resulting from global warming, leading to severe shortage of water for irrigation purposes; (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to assess the long-term impact of climate change on water availability for agriculture in high altitude cold desert regions of Ladakh; (c) the details of steps being taken/proposed to be taken to mitigate the shortage of water for agricultural needs, including implementing any region-specific drought-resilient agricultural practices,  traditional  water  harvesting  systems  or  crop  insurance  mechanisms  suited  to Ladakh's agro-climatic conditions; and (d) whether any special assistance or financial package is being considered for Ladakh to mitigate climate-induced water scarcity and sustain local agriculture and horticulture in the region?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI  RAM NATH THAKUR)

- (a) to (d):   Yes, the Government is aware of the challenges posed by climate change on agriculture  in  the  country,  including  Ladakh.  Several  steps  have  been  taken  to  deal  with adverse  climate  situations  in  the  agriculture  sector.  As  reported  by  UT  Government  of Ladakh, steps have been taken to mitigate the shortage of water for agricultural needs in Ladakh, and to promote region-specific drought-resilient agricultural practices suited to its unique  agro-climatic  conditions.  The  UT  of  Ladakh  is  extending  financial  assistance  to address climate-induced water scarcity and to support sustainability of local agriculture and horticulture through various schemes and region-specific interventions as detailed below:
- i. About  283  hectares  of  area  has  been  brought  under  micro-irrigation  systems under Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme and Special Development Package (SDP).
- ii. An  expenditure  of  ₹12.33  lakh  has  been  incurred  for  establishment  of  an Automatic Ice Reservoir (Artificial Glacier) under the District Capex during the year 2024-25.
- iii. An expenditure of ₹72.50 lakh has been incurred for implementation of mulching technology under Other Special Area Program (OSAP) 33 - Subsidy during the year 2024-25.

Besides, one medium irrigation project in the UT of Ladakh, namely, the Parkachik Khows  Canal  Project,  was  included  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme during 2015-16. An amount of ₹2.98 crore has been  provided  for  the  project,  and  an  irrigation  potential  of  1,500  hectares  has  been developed under it till date.

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