SASE plans to harvest snow in Lahaul-Spiti

In a first endeavour of its kind in the country, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) plans to launch snow harvesting in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal to ensure water supply in snow-fed areas.

In a first endeavour of its kind in the country, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) plans to launch snow harvesting in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal to ensure water supply in snow-fed areas.

"To enhance water supply in snow-fed areas, we plan snow harvesting. A detailed project report is being prepared. Some feasibility studies have been done. In the beginning, we have chosen small sub-basin near our research station at Patsio in Lahaul and Spiti," SASE director Ashwagosha Ganju said.

Patsio is situated at a height of 3,800 metres above sea level.

Snow harvesting involves conservation of snow that falls naturally for longer time so as to future use to supply water to a particular place. " Right now we are facing problems like penetration of water in the ground and snow distribution through wind activity," said SASE officer.

Another aim of the 12th Five Year Plan is the development of Lightweight Unmanned Instrumented Vehicle for snow study which will cost between Rs 10-15 crore. "We have tried a prototype. It can go to places which are hazardous," said the director.

SASE has also started using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for glacier studies. "We fix the GPR on a helicopter and move it over a glacier. It helps in gathering information on glacier bed and snow pack height.