Question : MELTING OF GLACIERS

(a) whether due to climate change and global warming, the lakes, springs and glaciers are receding/melting very rapidly especially in Himalayan region;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the devastation at Kedarnath is also attributed to the melting of glaciers; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the precautionary measures taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 20 by Shri Jeetendra Singh Bundela and Shri Modugulavenugopala Reddy regarding Melting of Glaciers

(a)&(b)As per studies conducted by the Geological Survey of India, the glaciers in Himalayan region are receding at varying rates in different areas. As per these findings, recession of glaciers could result from natural cyclic processes and other factors including, inter alia, global warming.

(c)&(d)The devastation in the Kedarnath area is not mainly due to the glacier melt. The combined effect of very heavy rainfall, heavy snowmelt and breaching of the Chaurabari lake in the upstream could have resulted in a gushing outflow with large amounts of debris which devastated the entire valley. The very heavy rainfall in the entire catchment further increased the magnitude of floods downstream.

Government is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with a view to enhance the ecological sustainability of India’s development path and address climate change in all regions of the country. NAPCC comprises, inter alia, of eight National Missions including National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system which aims to strengthen the system for observing and monitoring the Himalayan glaciers. Besides, a research centre on Himalayan Glaciology has been established at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun to undertake comprehensive glacier research in the country. Further, all states including Himalayan states are advised to prepare the State Action Plan on Climate Change to address specific climate change issues.