About founder
The Incredible Water Man – India Today
( https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20071015-the-incredible-waterman-734292-2007-10-08
The incredible waterman- Ritesh Arya in India-Today
Wikipedia page on Dr. Ritesh Arya (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritesh_Arya )
https://www.theweekendleader.com/Success/2191/divining-at-heights.html – Weekender
About Dr Ritesh Arya
Dr. Ritesh Arya, PhD in geology from Panjab University Chandigarh and Guinness World Record holder is the founder of Arya Drillers. He is an eminent hydrogeologist working for the exploration and development of groundwater resources in the Himalayas since 1993.
In 1997 he founded Arya Drillers and worked on “No Water No Money basis”. He has made sincere and dedicated efforts to solve the drinking water problem on sustainable basis in draught hit areas of the mountain states. Doing so his name figured in GUINNESS WORLD RECORD.
Early Days He joined the Groundwater Organisation, Government of Himachal Pradesh as a Hydrogeologist in 1993 and was the first to classify the Himalayas into various Hydrostratigraphic zones and made a Model to explain the occurrence and movement of groundwater resources in the Himalayas. He published several research papers and presented them in multiple Seminars in India and abroad.
Besides he is interested in tectonics, evolution, and Climate change.
Climate
He has proposed Arya’s C cycle on climate change and based on geological evidence showed that Climate change is Natural cyclic process like day and night and presented various talks on “Global warming and its impact on the ground water resources of the Himalayas”.
Energy
His concept of AGNEYODGARA (Lava Energy) to provide “FREE SAFE Sustainable WATER & ENERGY for all by tapping MAGMA at shallow depths in geologically favorable locations to produce GIGA watts of renewable energy 24×7 was ranked TOP 10 innovations in World Future Energy Summit Abu Dhabi .
He is a member of the WG National Institute of Hydrology Roorkee.
India Today rightly called him The Incredible WaterMan
Member of :
ISEO (Geneva), MF(USA), IAH, (England). IAHS
History of groundwater development in Himalayas is the journey of developing groundwater by Ritesh Arya
Dr Ritesh Arya started his carrier as a hydrogeologist in Himachal Government in 1993 @Rs 82.80 paise. At that time the entire water supply schemes for providing drinking water facilities to the people were based on tapping surface water resources only. Groundwater data on mountain areas was negligible and the Himalayas were considered to be devoid of substantial groundwater potential. Prior to his work the entire exercise to develop groundwater resources in the mountain state of Himachal was based on the hit-and-trial method. Arya studied samples of more than 6000 borewells and classified the Himalayas into various Hydrostratigraphic zones (International Geological Congress, China, 1996). Later he prepared a model to explain the occurrence and movement of groundwater resources in the entire Himalayas (International Conference on Groundwater Solutions, Australia, 1997). This formed the basis of his future work. The first break to prove his hypothesis came in 1998 when the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in collaboration with Water Aid a UK-based NGO asked him to provide safe drinking water to the Tibetans, settled in Leh. The condition of the drinking water supply was very poor. The only source of water for the Tibetan settlement of 10000 dwellings was from water tankers. Situations deteriorated in winters when temperatures dropped to minus 30 degrees, even in summers the situation was very pathetic as silt from glacier melt rendered the distribution system nonfunctional. Arya not only prepared a model report but also executed the project to provide safe drinking water to the people based on the exploration and development of groundwater resources with a 100% guarantee i.e. if no water is provided no money will be charged. In 2000 the entire Tibetan Settlement became the first community in the entire hill states of the Hindu Kush Himalayas to boost of getting safe drinking water 24 hours 365 days. Not only it changed the entire socio-economy of the habitants of the cold mountain deserts of Ladakh but also worked as a model to show that groundwater could provide safe drinking water to the entire region on an economical and sustainable basis.
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Having broken the notion of the availability of groundwater in the headwater regions of the cold mountain deserts of Ladakh he worked in close collaboration with Defense Research and Development Organization to dream of using vast groundwater resources to usher green revolution in Ladakh. He advocated a shift in agricultural practices from irrigating fields based on groundwater aquifers rather than surface water sources which were very erratic in their behavior. The model yielded results and the Field Research Laboratory in Nubra Valley which was on the verge of closure recorded 50% increase in its production. Experiments with trench farming in winter also increased production because of the temperature advantage of +5ºC which groundwater enjoys over the surface water, which almost freezes in Shyok River. |
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Of the various projects undertaken by him, the experience of providing drinking water to the troops stationed at the Siachen Glacier was most challenging as for the first time groundwater was explored to provide safe drinking water to the troops stationed in the highest battlefield of the world. Prior to this, the habitants were forced to melt ice to quench their thirst. Now they have piped water even in winter when temperatures drop to minus 50ºC. |
Of the various projects undertaken by him, the experience of providing drinking water to the troops stationed at the Siachen Glacier was most challenging as for the first time groundwater was explored to provide safe drinking water to the troops stationed in the highest battlefield of the world. Prior to this, the habitants were forced to melt ice to quench their thirst. Now they have piped water even in winter when temperatures drop to minus 50ºC.
However, the main question was to know the potential and sustainability of the groundwater source in time and space. This was answered when a borewell drilled by him in 2001 to augment the water supply scheme for the Indian army yielded artesian conditions at an altitude of 3500 meters above the mean sea level. In 2004 for this facet, he became the first geologist to find a place in Guinness World Records.
This also showed that there is an ample amount of groundwater available below the cold deserts and holds the key to checking desertification due to global warming in the highland region and turning the cold mountain deserts green. (International Seminar Royal Geographical Society London,2005).
Clients
Our Valuable Clients:
Defence Research & Development Organisation
Military Engineering Service
Engineer Corporation
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Airport Authority of India
Irrigation and Public Health, Himachal Pradesh
Public Health Engineering, J & K
Housing Board, Himachal Pradesh
Home
“Guinness world record holder company for exploring and drilling highest artesian borewell in the world”
Specialising Exploration and Drilling Groundwater Solutions for a Thirsty World since 1997″
Services Offered:
- Groundwater Exploration in Himalayas: “Discover hidden water sources for sustainable water solutions”
- Water Well Drilling: “Reliable and efficient well drilling”
- Borehole Drilling: “Precise and accurate borehole solutions”
- Foundation Drilling: “Secure and stable foundations”
- Geothermal Drilling: “Harness the power of the Earth”
What Press says
“Incredible WaterMan (Ritesh Arya)“- India Today “Indian Geologist (Ritesh Arya) makes into Guinness World Record” – The Tribune. “This man punctured groundwater theories” – Hindustan Times. “Our troops in Siachen gets 24 hour water” – Times of India
Dr Ritesh Arya drilling in Leh Ladakh @16000 feet
Conferences
Dr Ritesh Arya with Prof Ladislaus Rybach President of International Geothermal Association vising Agneyodgara Stall at World Future Energy Summit Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center – ADNEC.
Ritesh Arya @ International Geographical Congress @ Aligarh Muslim University
World Water Day 2019
Ritesh Arya with Kishan Kant and Director CGC, Principal CGC,
#WorldWaterDay
Ritesh Arya @ International Convention on Renewable World
Save the Himalayas Foundation (SHF), Chandigarh Hydrogeologist Dr. Ritesh Arya (Project Director).
Ritesh Arya in Save The Himalayan Foundation
Ritesh Arya, International Water Summit, Abu Dhabi
Company Profile
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- Siachen – warm waters
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- Drilling @Chushul
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- DRILLING RIG @ kHARDUNGLA 18000 FEET – RITESH ARYA
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- Drilling @ Durbuk – Ritesh Arya
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- Drilling rig at Rezang La in 2013 – Ritesh Arya
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- Drilling rig @ Chushul – Ritesh Arya
Company Profile
Arya Drillers was founded by Dr Ritesh Arya (PhD) in Geology and Guinness World Record Holder in 1997. He has more then 30 years of experience in groundwater development of Himalayas which were initially considered to be devoid of groundwater. Providing sustianable drinking water to the people of mountian regions is his utmost priority specially those lving in high altitude cold mountian deserts of Ladakh.
Providing drinking water to 3800 Tibetans who migrated from Tibet along with His Holiness Dalai Lama following Chinese agression in 1959 and settled in Sonamling Tibetan Settlment in Ladakh was his 1st significant project
Arya Drillers is registered with Military Engineering Service and has been working with them since 1997 providing water in most difficult situations to army and civil population both in war ( during Kargil 1999 and Galwan war 2020) and peace.
Besides providing water he has written various research papers and presented them in various National and International Seminars both within India and Abroad. Presenting paper in World Water Week in Stockholm Sweden was one such memorable intitative.
His Paper History of groundwater development in Himalayas is one of the poinering papers in study of groundwater development in Himalayas.
Contact Us
2882/1
Sector-38 C.
Chandigarh-160036
India
Phone: +91-93167 22291
Email: aryadrillers@gmail.com
Services
Exploration of Groundwater
Exploration Geothermal Energy
Drilling of Borewell in Himalayas
Geo Physical/Resistivity Surveys
Geo Chemical Analysis
Installation of Submersible Pumps and Hand Pumps
Planning, Designing, Building and Management of Water Supply Schemes for Tower & Villages on built, operate, transfer (BOT) basis
Awards
Ritesh Arya, International Water Summit, Abu Dhabi 2016
Life Time Achievement Award to Ritesh Arya @ St Marys Kasauli
The efforts and the results achieved by him in the last 12 years has been rewarded by prestigious awards like Great Indian Achievers Award 2004 and Bharat Excellence Award 2003.
Recently he has been successful in achieving a world record for “DRILLING THE HIGHEST BOREWELL WITH ARTESIAN CONDITION” and this feat has been registered in the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
Projects
Drilling @ Sourth Polu,Ladakh India
Drilling at Lukung
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- Drilling for groundwater at Lukung Pangong Lake – Ritesh Arya
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- Drilling for groundwater at Lukung Pangong Lake – Ritesh Arya
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- Drilling for groundwater at Lukung Pangong Lake – Ritesh Arya
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- garbage dumped in High mountians – Ritesh Arya
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- Drilling for groundwater at Lukung Pangong Lake – Ritesh Arya
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- Drilling for groundwater at Lukung Pangong Lake – Ritesh Arya
Drilling at Chushul
Drilling at North POlu
Drilling at Karu
Drilling for groundwater development @ Siachen
Siachen -Selecting site for groundwater
2002 and 2013 Borewells at SIACHEN,Ladakh
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- Siachen: Ritesh Arya Hydrogeologist taps into a hot water source near Army base camp
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- Siachen – Ritesh Arya with Army
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- Borewell Water at Siachen – Ritesh Arya
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- Siachen – Ritesh Arya with Borewell
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- Water at Siachen – Ritesh Arya
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- Luke warm water at Siachen – Ritesh Arya
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- Siachen: Ritesh Arya Hydrogeologist taps into a hot water source near Army base camp
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- Siachen: Ritesh Arya Hydrogeologist taps into a hot water source near Army base camp
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- Ritesh Arya’s groundwater success in Siachen Glacier
Drilling at Thakung Ladakh 2013
1993-95
Provided potable drinking water in the draught hit villages of Himachal Pradesh.
Sponsored by Himachal Pradesh Government and UNICEF
It was believed that rivers and stream of Himachal could provide potable to the people and adequate water for agriculture, but contrary to this belief villages of this mountain state were facing an acute shortage on both issues, as the streams had discharges that fluctuated from very little in summers to flood level during the monsoons and had freezing problems in winters. Groundwater potential was yet to be realized and works was mainly confined to the inter-mountain valley region only. Mountains in general were thought to be devoid of any significant water resources. I undertook several exploratory programs in the Una, Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla and Lahual-Sipti, District of Himachal Pradesh by drilling on top of the mountains which were previously thought to be ground water deficient areas. I succeeded in providing safe drinking water in more than 200 draught hit villages. Besides water was provided to several industries and building complexes, thereby improving the lot of the people.
1994-95
In 1994 was awarded a project sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Himachal Pradesh to prepare a pilot project to find sustainable water solutions to solve drinking water problem in the draught hit villages of the mountain state.
During this project I was able to understand the scientific basis of the movement and occurrence of groundwater in the mountains. Based on these hydrological and geological observations and borehole data from more then 6000 borewells.
1996
I was able to classify the entire Himalayas into 7 different “Hydrostratigraphic zones” which was presented in International geological Congress, 1996 held in China and later was able to understand the scientific basis of the movement and occurrence of groundwater in the mountains which helped to prepare a “Conceptual Model to explain movement of groundwater resources in Himalayas” which was widely accepted in an International groundwater congress held in Melbourne, 1998.
All this data helped in preparing “Model water supply schemes” for sustainable development in the Himalayas in near future. These observations were presented by me in an International Geological Congress held in China, 1996.
1996-99.
Provided safe drinking water to the Sonamling Tibetan settlement, at Choglamsar, Leh, Ladakh.
Sponsored by: Water Aid, UK based, NGO run by British Royalty and . . Tibetan Government in Exile of his holiness Dalai Lama.
Sonamling Settlement, a habitation of about 10000 Tibetans who settled in the deserts of Choglamsar, Leh-Ladakh, after they fled Tibet, following Chinese aggression in 1959.
Prior of this project that is for the last 40 years there was acute shortage of drinking water. The residents had to wait throughout the day to collect a meager amount (of 5-10 liters of water per day per family) from the water tankers supplied erratically by the local government. In case of emergency they collected water from near by Water Canal, which was as good as sewerage canal and water was very unhygienic. Groundwater resources were considered to be absent as the earlier theories confined these resources only to the banks of rivers/streams. After carrying out detailed hydrogeological exploration I successfully developed the groundwater resources by drilling borewells with the help of suitable rigs.
The success of the project entirely changed the scenario and people enjoyed sustainable safe drinking water throughout the year, especially in winters when temperatures drop to -30*C. This helped to increase the socio-economic status of the people as they could now think of earning their livelihood without worrying about collecting water for their families.
1998-2000
Planned and executed cost effective drinking water supply schemes to Indian Air Force, at Air Force stations, Thoise in Nubra valley (Siachen glacier)
Sponsored by: Indian Air Force
Prior to this project water was transported in water tankers after collecting the same from Shyok river. In 1998 Military Engineering Services planned a Water Supply Scheme based on tapping surface water resources and lifting the same to the station costing approx. Rs. 50 lakh. I completed this project by exploring and developing groundwater resources at an expenditure of less than Rs 20 Lakhs only, thereby saving the government approx. Rs. 30 lakhs. The scheme is running successfully.
1999-2002
Conceptualised and executed the project to provide safe drinking water to the troops (stationed at border posts) in Siachen sector and villagers located on indo-Pak border where temperatures drop to –40oc winter.
Sponsored by: INDIAN ARMY, LEH
I worked on projects for Indian Army during Kargil war and post Kargil war period to provide safe drinking water throughout the year in difficult and inaccessible army posts on the border areas in Siachen Sector. This helped to provide the basic necessity of potable water to the army and thereby boosting their morale.
DURING KARGIL WAR
Provided safe drinking water at Army Hospital at Hunder, Base 1 and Base 4 in Siachen Glacier Sector. Prior to execution of this project the soldiers were forced to melt ice from the glaciers to drinking water. On the execution of this project safe drinking water was made available to them 24 housrs/365 days, even when outside temperature drop to –40oC.
POST KARGIL WAR
Worked in coordination with Indian Army and Local Jammu and Kashmir government in a “Sadbhwana Project” aimed at providing safe drinking water to the Border Villagers of Tyagshi, Turtuk and Bhugdong (on Indo-Pak Border) which were in Pakistan prior to 1971 war with Pakistan.
This welfare project was significant to woo the villagers of the border areas and show them that the Indian Government is concerned and that they were integral part of India.
2000-2002
Conceptualized and successfully provided water to the fields in the mountain deserts of Ladakh thereby helped in starting the green revolution
Sponsored By: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),. Ministry of Defence.
Worked in close coordination with DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organisation) and FRL (Field Research Laboratory) to explore and provide water to increase the agricultural and milk production by developing groundwater resources. Earlier the FRL at Partapur was on the verge of closure, because of no water was available. But on my association with FRL, I started a project based on exploration and development of groundwater resources which was completed successfully and the agricultural production increased more then 50 times. As a result of this various vegetables-fruits like tomatoes, watermelons etc were grown and supplied to Indian Army. This lad the foundation stone to initiate the Green Revolution in the high attitude, cold mountain, deserts of Ladakh.
2002-2003
Prepared water supply scheme for Indian Oil Depot and Air port Authority of India to provide safe drinking water in the area which were earlier considered to be devoid of drinking water.
Project sponsored by Airport Authority of India and Indian Oil Depot
Prior to the conceptualization of this project the scheme to get water to the Indian Oil depot and Airport Authority of India was based on transporting drinking water with the help of water bowers and the solution was not only uneconomical but unsustainable as well. Groundwater exploration and development provided new results and both the sites today have sustainable and economical water solutions based on groundwater water development.
2004-2005
Planned cost effective augmentation of water supply scheme (this scheme was 200 years old,) at Kasauli and Jatogh cantonment, Himachal Pradesh.
Sponsored By: Army Cantonment 2007
Kasauli cantonment was founded by Britishers in early 19th Centaury. In early days water was supplied to the cantonment by collecting the spring water in the water tanks and lifting it by pumps to an elevation of 2000 meters. With passage of time population and water requirement increased (present civil population approx. 5000) and water sources depleted. Scheme was augmented in 1965 by transporting water from river Gamber. This was a very costly venture as it involved transporting water through large distance through pumping. As a result the people are being charged at exorbitant rate of Rs. 25 for 1000 liters of water in comparison to Rs. 2 per 1000 liters by the Irrigation and Public Health Department at Himachal Government. I undertook the project to explore and develop groundwater resources in and around Kasauli town and initial research has shown positive results. Prior to my work Kasauli and Jatogh were considered to be devoid of significant groundwater potential. On completion of this project I shall be able to provide additional sustainable augmented water source on one hand, and bring down the heavy cost of water imposed on the consumers besides providing pure drinking water.
For my achievements is successfully harnessing groundwater in different terrains of Himalayas I have been invited to present the data and research findings collected during the above projects in various national and International conferences in India and abroad.
Recently was invited by Royal Geographical Society London to deliver a lecture on “Impact of global warming on the glaciers of Himalayas and its impact on the groundwater for sustainable development”