Lok Sabha Question No. 3249 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Recession of Glaciers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3249

ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## RECESSION OF GLACIERS

## 3249.   SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of glaciers in the country along with their distribution across States and Union Territories; (b) whether the Government has conducted studies to monitor the status and rate of recession of glaciers in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has measured the extent of glacial retreat for individual glaciers and if so, the details  thereof  indicating  the  data  on  the  amount  of  retreat  recorded  for  each  glacier  during  the  last  two decades;

(d) the key findings of such studies including the impact of glacial retreat on water availability, ecosystems and local communities; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to mitigate the adverse effects of glacier recession and to enhance long term monitoring mechanisms?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) According to the Inventory of Himalayan Glaciers, Special Publication No. 34, 2009 published by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the country has a total of 9,575 glaciers.  State and Union Territories wise distribution of glaciers across the country is given at Annexure-I .

(b) & (c) Government has conducted comprehensive studies to monitor the status and recession rates of glaciers across the country. Efforts for regular and long-term monitoring of glaciers and snow cover in the Himalaya are undertaken under the Himalayan Glaciological Programme, coordinated by the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of  India.  These  initiatives  involve  national  institutions  such  as  the  Wadia  Institute  of  Himalayan  Geology (WIHG), Geological Survey of India (GSI), National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Space Application Centre (SAC), National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan  Environment  (NIHE),  Indian  Institute  of  Science  (IISc)  as  well  as  numerous  state  and  central universities including Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs), Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU), Hemvati

Nandan Bahuguna (HNB) Garhwal University, Delhi University, Jammu University, University of Srinagar, and Lucknow University.

WIHG actively monitors glaciers through field-based observations in the Central Himalaya, Western Himalaya, and Karakoram regions. Currently, WIHG monitors ten glaciers: four in the Central Himalaya, six in  the  Western  Himalaya  and  Karakoram. The  monitored glaciers in Uttarakhand include Dokriani Glacier (since 1991) in the Bhagirathi Basin, Chorabari Glacier (since 2003) in the Mandakini Basin, and Dunagiri Glacier (since 2012) in the Alaknanda Basin. In Ladakh, WIHG monitors Pensilungpa and Parkachik glaciers (since 2015) in the Suru River Basin, and DurungDrung Glacier in the Doda Basin. In the Karakoram region, WIHG has been monitoring the Saser La and Changmolung glaciers (since 2022) in the upper Nubra Valley. Long-term ground-based monitoring studies indicate significant recession trends:

-  Dokriani Glacier in the Bhagirathi Basin has retreated at a rate of 15-20 meters per  year since 1995.
-  Chorabari  Glacier  in  the  Alaknanda  Basin  retreated  by  approximately  9-11  meters  per  year between 2003 and 2016.
-  Pensilungpa Glacier in the Western Himalaya retreated around 2,941 meters, averaging 5.6 meters per year, from the Little Ice Age (LIA) until 2019.
-  DurungDrung Glacier receded by about 624 meters (average 12 meters/year) from 1971 to 2019.
-  Parkachik Glacier retreated 210.5 meters (average 4.21 meters/year) between 1971 and 2021.

Furthermore, WIHG has extensively utilized satellite imagery  and Geographic  Information Systems (GIS) to monitor glaciers and glacial lakes in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the Eastern Himalaya. Key findings on monitoring of glaciers based on remote-sensing studies include:

-  Identification of 220 surge-type glaciers covering approximately 7,733 km² (43% of the total area under glacier cover) in the Karakoram, including 100 previously unreported surge-type glaciers, significantly enhancing understanding of their distribution and behavior.
-  Documentation of 252 glaciers covering 481.32 km² in the Suru Basin, Zanskar, Ladakh, with a total reduction of area covered under glacier is 32 km² (~ 6%) from 1971 to 2017.
-  Remote  sensing  studies  of  about  80  glaciers  in  the  Garhwal  Himalaya  indicate  a  glacier  area decrease  from  about  600  km²  in  1968  to  573  km²  in  2006,  representing  a  loss  of  4.6%.  The Alaknanda and upper Bhagirathi basins experienced area reductions of 18.5 km² (5.7%) and 9.1 km² (3.3%), respectively, between 1968 and 2006.

Notable  linear  recession  rates  in  Tons  Valley  glaciers  between  1962  and  2010  include  Jaundhar Glacier (34.2 m/year), Jhajju Glacier (15.4 m/year), and Tilku Glacier (13.5 m/year).

Further, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has conducted studies to monitor the rate of recession of some of the selected glaciers in the country. GSI has conducted mass balance studies on nine glaciers and carried out secular movement studies on 83 glaciers to assess the recessional and advancement pattern of the

glaciers. Majority of Himalayan glaciers are observed to be melting/ retreating at varying rates in different regions. The retreat trends of some Himalayan glaciers is at Annexure-II.

(d) The key findings from studies on glacial retreat in the Himalayas, particularly in the context of water availability, ecosystems, and local communities, often include the following points:

## i. Impact on Water Availability:

-  As glaciers retreat, the long-term reduction in melt-water will likely lead to decreased flow in rivers during the dry seasons. The Himalayas serve as a critical water source for major river systems like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus.
-  Initially, glacial melt may cause increased water flow, but as glaciers shrink, this contribution declines, leading to shortages, especially in the summer months.
-  Reduced  melt-water  affects  hydropower  generation,  a  significant  energy  source  for   the country, which rely on glacier-fed rivers for electricity production.

## ii. Impact on Ecosystems:

-  Reduced  glacier  melt  impacts  freshwater  ecosystems  by  changing  river  flow  patterns, temperature, and sediment load. These changes affect aquatic species' habitats and can lead to shifts in biodiversity.
-  Retreating glaciers alter vegetation zones, causing stress on high-altitude flora and fauna that depend on cold environments.
-  Glacial  retreat  often  leads  to  the  formation  of  glacial  lakes,  which  may  threaten  local ecosystems through the potential for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

## iii. Impact on Local Communities:

-  Reduced  water  availability  affects  irrigation  for  agriculture,  a  critical  livelihood  source  in Himalayan communities. Changes in water flow can disrupt planting and harvesting cycles.
-  As  glaciers  retreat,  there  is  an  increased  risk  of  GLOFs,  which  can  devastate  downstream communities, destroy infrastructure, and damage arable land.
-  Communities  dependent  on  glacier  melt-water  may  face  economic  pressures,  leading  to migration or shifts in livelihoods (e.g., from agriculture to tourism or other industries).
-  Many  Himalayan  communities  have  deep  spiritual  connections  to  glaciers,  rivers,  and mountains, and the retreat of glaciers can have profound cultural and religious consequences.

These findings highlight the increasing threats posed by the climate change in the region, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and mitigation strategies to protect both ecosystem and local communities from the cascading effect of glacial retreat.

(e) In  collaboration  with  WIHG,  the  Uttarakhand  State  Disaster  Management  Authority  (USDMA)  is assessing  the  risks  of  13  glacial  lakes  across  the  Pithoragarh,  Chamoli,  Tehri,  Uttarkashi,  and  Bageshwar

districts.  WIHG  specifically  monitors  Vasundhara  Tal  in  the  Dhauliganga  Basin,  Chamoli  District.  This proglacial lake, located at the terminus of the Raykana Glacier, expanded from 0.14 km² in 1968 to 0.59 km² in 2021. Several supraglacial lakes in the ablation zones of the Raykana and Purvi Kamet glaciers are also combined with Vasundhara Tal. To mitigate potential hazards, WIHG continuously monitors these lakes for risk assessment.

As part of the Integrated Operational Warning System (IOWS) project, funded by the Department of Science  and  Technology  (DST),  WIHG  is  to  install  hydro-meteorological  and  seismic  stations  in  the Dhauliganga  Basin.  These  stations  are  to  provide  real-time  data  to  analyze  various  triggering  factors  and downstream hazards, enhancing early warning systems and disaster preparedness. Assessment of risks and implementation of effective risk mitigation strategies can be done on the basis of the collected data.

In 2024, WIHG participated in a joint field expedition, conducting a bathymetric survey to assess the potentially hazardous Vasundhara Tal in Chamoli District.  WIHG has also contributed to research on GLOFrelated  disasters,  including  the  2013  Kedarnath  disaster,  the  2021  Chamoli  disaster,  and  the  2023  South Lhonak glacial lake outburst

***

## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3249 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.03.2025 REGARDING 'RECESSION OF GLACIERS'.

## Distribution of glaciers of India Across States and Union Territories .

| States of India               | Number of GlaciersArea   |   (km 2 ) |
|-------------------------------|--------------------------|-----------|
| Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh5262 |                          |     29163 |
| Himachal Pradesh              | 2735                     |      4516 |
| Uttarakhand                   | 968                      |      2857 |
| Sikkim                        | 449                      |       706 |
| Arunachal Pradesh             | 161                      |       223 |
| Total                         | 9575                     |     37465 |

## ANNEXURE-II

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) & (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3249 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.03.2025 REGARDING 'RECESSION OF GLACIERS'.

## Retreat trends of glacier snouts of the Himalayan Glacier.

|   S.N. | Name of glacier         | Basin   | Period              | Average annual retreat (m/year)   |
|--------|-------------------------|---------|---------------------|-----------------------------------|
|      1 | DurungDrung             | Indus   | 1971-2013           | 13.1                              |
|      2 | Hagshu                  | Indus   | 1975-2015           | 11.4                              |
|      3 | Pensilungpa             | Indus   | 1962-2015           | 7.4                               |
|      4 | Shafat                  | Indus   | 1975-2015           | 22.0                              |
|      5 | Parkhachik              | Indus   | 1962-2015           | 3.2                               |
|      6 | ChhotaShigri            | Chenab  | 1962-1995           | 6.8                               |
|      7 | Bara Shigri             | Chenab  | 1962-2015           | 32.4                              |
|      8 | Hamtah                  | Chenab  | 2000-2010           | 12.5                              |
|      9 | Triloknath              | Chenab  | 1968-1996           | 17.9                              |
|     10 | YocheLungpa             | Chenab  | 1963-2006           | 19.5                              |
|     11 | Mulkila                 | Chenab  | 1963-2006           | 14.8                              |
|     12 | Panchinala - I          | Chenab  | 1963-2007 1971-2019 | 10.6 3.95                         |
|     13 | Panchinala - II         | Chenab  | 1963-2007 1971-2019 | 11.9 2.89                         |
|     14 | Tingal Goh              | Chenab  | 1963-2008           | 16.0                              |
|     15 | Miyar                   | Chenab  | 1961-1996 1962-2017 | 16.4 21.90                        |
|     16 | Sonapani                | Chenab  | 1906-2014           | 17.6                              |
|     17 | Gangstang               | Chenab  | 1963-2008           | 29.7                              |
|     18 | Gepang Gath             | Chenab  | 2003-2012           | 45.0                              |
|     19 | SamundarTapu            | Chenab  | 1962-2013           | 24.8                              |
|     20 | Batal                   | Chenab  | 1962-2014           | 7.2                               |
|     21 | Man Talai (Gl. No. 115) | Beas    | 1989-2004           | 23.3                              |
|     22 | Beas Kund               | Beas    | 1963-2003           | 18.8                              |
|     23 | Gl. No. 30              | Beas    | 1963-2003           | 13.8                              |
|     24 | Jobri                   | Beas    | 1963-2003 1971-2019 | 2.5 2.58                          |
|     25 | Sara Umga               | Beas    | 1963-2004           | 41.5                              |
|     26 | Tal                     | Ravi    | 1963-2005           | 39.9                              |
|     27 | Manimahesh              | Ravi    | 1968-2005           | 29.1                              |
|     28 | Gara-I                  | Satluj  | 1979-2010           | 25.6                              |
|     29 | ShauneGarang            | Satluj  | 1963-1984           | 31.1                              |
|     30 | BilareBange             | Satluj  | 1963-2011           | 65.2                              |
|     31 | NaraduGarang            | Satluj  | 1963-2011           | 34.1                              |
|     32 | Pin                     | Satluj  | 1965-2014           | 12.7                              |
|     33 | Nisti                   | Satluj  | 1965-2014           | 14.5                              |
|     34 | Parang                  | Satluj  | 1962-2013           | 11.0                              |
|     35 | Padma                   | Satluj  | 1962-2013           | 7.0                               |
|     36 | NagpoTokpo              | Satluj  | 1962-1998           | 6.4                               |

|   37. | Bandarpunch                      | Yamuna       | 1960-1999   | 25.5            |
|-------|----------------------------------|--------------|-------------|-----------------|
|    38 | JhajjuBamak                      | Yamuna       | 1960-1999   | 27.6            |
|    39 | JaundarBamak                     | Yamuna       | 1960-1999   | 37.3            |
|    40 | Tilku                            | Yamuna       | 1960-1999   | 21.9            |
|    41 | Bhrigupanth                      | Bhagirathi   | 1962-1995   | 16.7            |
|    42 | Gangotri                         | Bhagirathi   | 1935-1996   | 18.8            |
|    43 | Glacier No. 3                    | Alaknanda    | 1932-1956   | 8.3             |
|    44 | Chorabari                        | Alaknanda    | 1992-1997   | 11.0            |
|    45 | Bhagirathi Kharak                | Alaknanda    | 1962-2001   | 14.7            |
|    46 | Dunagiri                         | Alaknanda    | 1992-1997   | 3.0             |
|    47 | Pindari                          | Alaknanda    | 1958-2001   | 9.4             |
|    48 | Milam                            | Ghaghra      | 1906-2011   | 20.6            |
|    49 | Burphu                           | Ghaghra      | 1963-2011   | 69.7            |
|    50 | Jhulang                          | Ghaghra      | 1962-2012   | 9.4             |
|    51 | Nikarchu                         | Ghaghra      | 1962-2002   | 9.1             |
|    52 | Poting                           | Ghaghra      | 1963-2011   | 29.0            |
|    53 | Adikailash                       | Ghaghra      | 1962-2002   | 13.1            |
|    54 | Sankalpa                         | Ghaghra      | 1881-1957   | 6.8             |
|    55 | Meola                            | Ghaghra      | 1912-2012   | 18.6            |
|    56 | Chipa                            | Ghaghra      | 1961-2012   | 24.9            |
|    57 | Zemu                             | Tista        | 1907-2012   | 9.0             |
|    58 | ChangmeKhangpu                   | Tista        | 1983-2012   | 13.4            |
|    59 | East Rathong                     | Tista        | 1966-2015   | 20.0            |
|    60 | Kedar Bamak                      | Bhagirathi   | 1976-2016   | 30.8            |
|    61 | Raykana                          | Dhauliganga  | 1968-2016   | 7.19            |
|    62 | Mabang                           | Dhauliganga  | 1962-2017   | 6.96            |
|    63 | Pyungru                          | Dhauliganga  | 1962-2017   | 4.45            |
|    64 | Takdung                          | Chenab       | 1989-2017   | 9.64            |
|    65 | Uldhampu                         | Chenab       | 1989-2017   | 4.66            |
|    66 | Menthosa                         | Chenab       | 1965-2018   | 4.32            |
|    67 | Gumba                            | Chenab       | 1971-2018   | 10.38           |
|    68 | Gangpu                           | Chenab       | 1989-2018   | 2.79            |
|    69 | Sagtogpa                         | Rongdo       | 1973-2018   | 7.4             |
|    70 | Sagtogpa East                    | Rongdo       | 1973-2018   | 8.13            |
|    71 | Thara Kangri                     | Rongdo       | 1973-2018   | +11.13 (Surged) |
|    72 | Garam Pani                       | Rongdo       | 1973-2018   | 4.96            |
|    73 | Rassa I                          | Rangdo       | 1973-2019   | 8.13            |
|    74 | Rassa II                         | Rangdo       | 1973-2019   | 2.63            |
|    75 | Arganglas Glacier                | Rangdo       | 1973-2019   | 18.86           |
|    76 | Phunangma                        | Rangdo       | 1973-2019   | 11.65           |
|    77 | Panamik-I                        | Shyok, Nubra | 1969-2021   | 1.68            |
|    78 | Panamik-II                       | Shyok, Nubra | 1969-2021   | 4.09            |
|    79 | Saser-I                          | Shyok, Nubra | 1980-2021   | 3.25            |
|    80 | Saser-II                         | Shyok, Nubra | 1980-2021   | 2.85            |
|    81 | Trilokinath Glacier              | South Chenab | 1969-21     | 18              |
|    82 | Beas Kund Glacier Glacier no. 20 | Beas Basin   | 1964-2021   | 15              |
|    83 |                                  | Beas Basin   | 1965-21     | 3.2             |

*****