Lok Sabha Question No. 1954 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Melting of Glaciers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA, HARI NARAYAN RAJBHAR, ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1954

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2017

## Melting of Glaciers

## 1954.   SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA: SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR:

SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether glaciers in the Himalayas are melting due to climate change and rise in global temperature and resulting in fragmentation and formation of new glacier lakes;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the  Government has conducted  any study  in  this  regard,  if  so,  the  details  and outcome thereof; and
- (d) the measures/steps taken by the Government to check flood and loss of human lives due to disasters caused by the melting of glaciers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) & (b): As per available observed data, the glaciers in the Himalayas have been, by and large, shrinking in volume and showing a retreating front. Research has shown that Himalayan glaciers have been receding since the end of the Little Ice Age, but the recession has increased its rate during the past few decades. However, the processes of glacier recession are rather irregular in rate, and in amount and time of occurrence. There could be several reasons for the enhanced rate of glacier melting. One of them is decreasing trend of winter precipitation. However, there is no conclusive  evidence  for  an  abnormal  annual  retreat.  Evidence  for  global  warming  being  the causative factor for retreat of glaciers is inconclusive.

(c) & (d): Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in collaboration with lndian Space Research  Organization  (ISRO)  has  carried  out  mapping  of  Himalayan  glaciers  using  lndian satellite data during 2004 to 2007. The study shows that there are 34,919 glaciers spread over 75,779 sq. km. in Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra basins covering Himalaya and Trans-Himalaya including  Karakoram  region.  Further,  ISRO  has  monitored  the  glacier  advance  and  retreat  of 2018 glaciers, across the Himalayan region using satellite data of 2000-01 to 2010-11. The study shows  that  87%  of  glaciers  showed  no  change,  12%  glaciers  retreated  and  1%  glaciers  have advanced. Himalayan glaciers are monitored as part of a project entitled 'Integrated Studies of

Himalayan  Cryosphere  using  Space  based  inputs  and  Impact  Assessment  due  to  Climate Change' funded by the Department of Space.

The  National  Mission  for  Sustaining  the  Himalayan  Ecosystem  (NMSHE)  under  the National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (NAPCC)  encompasses    conservation  measures  for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan glaciers and mountain ecosystems through establishment  of  monitoring  network,  promotion  of  community  based  management,  human resource  development,  and  strengthening  regional  cooperation.  Major  initiatives  taken  under NMSHE include creation of four Thematic Task Forces on Himalayan Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge systems, Forest Resources and Plant Diversity, and Fauna and Wildlife Habitats.

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