India, Nov. 15 -- Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the construction of 97 additional water bodies under Project Amrit Sarovar, taking the total number of ponds targeted for operationalisation across the Union Territory to 163 by January 2027.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening water security, ensuring reliable irrigation, combating climate change and safeguarding rural livelihoods in the high-altitude cold desert, an official said on Sunday.

The LG has directed the Public Health Engineering Department and other concerned authorities to complete the newly approved works in mission mode by January 31, 2027.

With the completion of these projects, 163 ponds will cover 163 of Ladakh's 248 villages, creating a...