Ladakh’s 43-km Igoo–Phey canal revived, water released after two-decade delay

In a major boost to Ladakh’s irrigation infrastructure, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday formally released water into the 43-km-long Igoo–Phey Irrigation Canal in Leh, marking the beginning of the 2026 irrigation season and bringing relief to thousands of farmers dependent on irrigation in the cold desert region.

The canal, which was heavily silted and in a dilapidated condition, has been restored, de-silted, and cleaned in a record time of just 20 days since the Lieutenant Governor visited the site on April 25. During his visit, Saxena had directed officials to repair and clean the canal by May 15 so that it could be made operational.

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Construction of the canal began in 1979 and was completed in 2005. However, it had remained defunct and in a state of disrepair since then, defeating the very purpose of the project.

The operationalisation of the canal reaffirms the UT Administration’s commitment to strengthening irrigation infrastructure, ensuring water security, and enhancing agricultural productivity in Ladakh. In the next 60 hours, when the water reaches the far end of the canal, it will irrigate 4,334 hectares of land across villages along its route.

Calling it a “good beginning,” Saxena said the release of water into the canal would benefit farmers and villages dependent on irrigation and contribute significantly to agricultural prosperity in the region.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor lauded officials of the PHE/I&FC Department for successfully restoring the canal and making it operational within the deadline set during his earlier visit to the site on April 25.

Saxena also directed officials to construct additional distributary channels to ensure wider outreach and equitable distribution of water to more villages and agricultural lands.

He said agricultural scientists would be invited to work with local farmers and help them experiment with crop varieties suited to Ladakh’s climate, thereby increasing farmers’ incomes through diversified agricultural practices.

The Lieutenant Governor also announced that the defunct Stakna Canal would soon be revived and said directions had already been issued to the concerned department to initiate work at the earliest.