Lok Sabha Question No. 305 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Impact of Climate Change in Himalayas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: THUPSTAN CHHEWANG

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.305

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2015

## Impact of Climate Change in Himalayas

## 305. SHRI THUPSTAN CHHEWANG:

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

- (a) whether the Ministry has developed a system of monitoring the impact of recession of Glaciers in the Himalayas on a regular basis;
- (b) if  so,  the  institution  entrusted  with  this  task  and  the  data  collected  during  the  last  ten years;
- (c) whether the institution so designated has the capability in  terms  of  manpower, equipments and technology etc. to efficiently carry out the task assigned;
- (d) whether the Government has formulated any comprehensive Action Plan to combat the impact of climate change in the Himalayas; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)  to  (c)  Under  the  Himalayan  Glaciological  Programme  sponsored  by  the  Department  of Science  and  Technology,  Government  of  India,  studies  related  to  mass  balance,  hydrometeorology, glacier dynamics, glacier length/area changes and climate studies of the Himalayan glaciers are being carried out.  A Centre for Glaciology has been established at Wadia Institute of Himalayan  Geology,  Dehradun.  The  Centre  has  initiated  a  coordinated  research  initiative  on Himalayan  glaciology  to  understand  the  effects  of  climate  change  on  the  glaciers  in  order  to develop strategies for climate change adaptability for sustaining Himalayan Eco-system.

Further, in a collaborative project with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,    lndian  Space  Research  Organisation  (ISRO)  has  carried  out  mapping  of  Himalayan glaciers covering lndus, Ganga and Brahmaputra basins using lndian satellite data during 2004 to 2011. The study shows that there are 34,919 glaciers spread over 75,779 sq. km. glaciated area in the  entire  Himalayas.  Further,  ISRO  has  monitored  the  glacier  advance  and  retreat  of  2018 glaciers, across the Himalayan region using satellite data of 2000-2001 and 2010-2011.

(d)  &  (e)  The  National  Mission  for  Sustaining  the  Himalayan  Ecosystem  (NMSHE)  under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) aims at evolving 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. It also  includes  networking  of  related  institutions  for  focused  research  in  different  themes  of Himalayan ecosystem. Programmes have been initiated for training in the field of glaciology, awareness  programmes  for  community  based  organizations  and  officials  related  to  the  Indian Himalayan  Region.  State  Climate  Change  Centres  have  been  set  up  in  the  seven  Himalayan states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim and Meghalaya.

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