New Delhi: Innovator and educationist Sonam Wangchuk, on whom the character 'Phunsuk Wangdu' from the movie '3 idiots' was based, has a novel approach towards sustainable development.
Speaking at Seventh 'Water Talk' organised here by National Water Mission on Friday, Wangchuk said he does not iron his clothes, as he was more concerned about the planet than his shabby appearance. "The electricity used for removing a few silly creases on your shirt can be used to power a rural house for as many as four days," he explained.
Wangchuk then went on to explain about his innovation, which can provide a great option to combat water scarcity.
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ARTIFICIAL GLACIERS OF LADAKH
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) June 5, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
With global emissions n local air pollution glaciers are melting fast but this Ice Stupa in Shara valley still stands 10 stories tall on #worldenvironmentday .
At this rate it should cross the summer to become world's 1st perennial man-made glacier. pic.twitter.com/rqvK5XvBFm
">ARTIFICIAL GLACIERS OF LADAKH
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) June 5, 2019
With global emissions n local air pollution glaciers are melting fast but this Ice Stupa in Shara valley still stands 10 stories tall on #worldenvironmentday .
At this rate it should cross the summer to become world's 1st perennial man-made glacier. pic.twitter.com/rqvK5XvBFmARTIFICIAL GLACIERS OF LADAKH
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) June 5, 2019
With global emissions n local air pollution glaciers are melting fast but this Ice Stupa in Shara valley still stands 10 stories tall on #worldenvironmentday .
At this rate it should cross the summer to become world's 1st perennial man-made glacier. pic.twitter.com/rqvK5XvBFm
He said he built ice stupas or artificial glaciers, after carefully observing, Chewang Norphel, a fellow Ladakhi. He explained that it is a form of glacier grafting technique that creates artificial glaciers, which can be used for storing winter water in the form of conical ice heaps. During summers, when water is scarce, the ice stupa melts, providing water supply for crops.
Wangchuk said he will be starting a unique crowd-funding initiative for his university, Himalayan Institute of Alternatives. He explained that people will not be asked to donate money, but will have to help the drive through behavioural change.
"If one pledges to not use elevators and use the stairs instead, the amount of electricity saved by him in a year can be contributed towards the fund," he said
"Instead of travelling on a plane, I decided to come here via a train, as a flight from Jodhpur to Delhi would have released 300 kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But a train releases just about 25 kg of carbon dioxide for the same distance," he added.