(a) whether about 22 lakes created due to sliding of
glaciers in the Himalayan region can cause havoc in plains
any time;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to check
sliding of glaciers and increasing water level and pressure
in the said lakes?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) to (c) Glacier inventory carried out by Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) using satellite data has shown
formation of 22 lakes (moraine-dammed) in the Satluj basin.
These lakes are fed by melting of glaciers. Lakes formed
in proglacial area are far away and they will cause least
damage to plains.
The formation of lakes over the glaciers and in
the adjacent areas is a natural process and its formation
cannot be avoided.
The National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) under
the Disaster Management Support Programme has been
constantly monitoring various major glacier lakes in the
Himalayas for any possible breach.