(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.