Question

1. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. When areas in and around Leh began to experience water

shortages, life didn’t grind to a halt. Why? Because Chewang Norphel, a retired civil engineer in the Jammu

and Kashmir government came up with the idea of artificial glaciers.

2. Ladakh, a cold desert at an altitude of 3,000-3,500 metres above sea level, has a low average annual

rainfall rate of 50mm. Glaciers have always been the only source of water. Agriculture is completely

dependent on glacier melt unlike the rest of river/monsoon-fed India. But over the years with increasing

effects of climate change, rainfall and snowfall patterns have been changing, resulting in severe shortage and

drought situations. Given the severe winter conditions, the window for farming is usually limited to one

harvest season.

3. It is located between the natural glacier above and the village below. The one closer to the village and

lowest in altitude melts first, providing water during April/May, the crucial sowing season. Further layers of

ice above melt with increasing temperature thus ensuring continuous supply to the fields. Thus, farmers have

been able to manage two crops instead of one. It costs about Rs.1,50,000 and above to create one.

4. Fondly called the “glacier man”, Mr. Norphel has designed over 15 artificial glaciers in and around Leh

since 1987. In recognition of his pioneering effort, he was conferred the Padma Shri by President Pranab

Mukherjee, in 2015.

5.There are few basic steps followed in creating the artificial glacier. River or stream water at higher

altitude is diverted to a shaded area of the hill, facing north, where the winter sun is blocked by a ridge or a

mountain range. At the start of winter/November, the diverted water is made to flow onto sloping hill face

through distribution channels. Stone embankments are built at regular intervals which impede the flow of

water, making shallow pools and freeze, forming a cascade of ice along the slope. Ice formation continues

for 3-4 months resulting in a large accumulation of ice which is referred to as an “artificial glacier”.

On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions:



a)Who was Chewang Norphel? 1m

(i) A retired civil engineer (ii) A retired doctor

(iii) A retired mechanical engineer (iv) A retired electrical engineer

b)What kind of landform is Ladakh? 1m

( i) Hot desert (ii) Cold desert

(iii) Arid desert (iv) Semi-Arid desert



c) Why have Glaciers been the only source of water for Ladakh? 1m

(i) High rainfall (ii) Average rainfall

(iii) Low average annual rainfall (iv) No rainfall​

Answer 1

Answer:

a : i)A retired civil engineer

b :(ii) cold desert

c :(iii) High rainfall