19/02/2026
Deepanshu and Tashi represented Acres of Ice during a recent visit to Gangtok, following an invitation from the Department of Science & Technology, Sikkim () to present our work and engage with state departments on the feasibility of Automated Ice Reservoirs (AIRs) for strengthening the city’s drinking water resources.
As part of the engagement, a joint field visit was conducted at Has Pokhari, Tamzey to undertake a preliminary assessment of site conditions for potential AIRs installation. This was followed by a technical meeting at the Public Health Engineering Department, Sikkim, attended by senior officials from the Science & Technology Department and PHE.
Discussions focused on Gangtok’s seasonal water stress during the lean winter months, when spring discharge reduces significantly while demand remains high due to resident consumption and a large floating tourist population. The potential of AIRs to store surplus winter water as ice and release it gradually during early summer was explored as a climate-resilient, low-energy solution to help bridge the city’s supply–demand gap.
The meeting outlined institutional roles, data-sharing requirements, and next steps, including the preparation of a detailed techno-commercial proposal by Acres of Ice for further evaluation and pilot implementation. Automated Ice Reservoirs were identified as a promising approach for Himalayan urban centers facing increasing water stress under changing climate conditions.
