Lok Sabha Question No. 2701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Melting of Glaciers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: P. KUMAR, JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2701

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.05.2016

## Melting of Glaciers

## 2701.   SHRI P.KUMAR:

## SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted or proposes to conduct any study with regard to melting of glaciers;
- (b) if so, the details and outcome thereof;
- (c) whether  there  is  any  correlation  between  natural  disasters  including  the  Kedarnath disaster and melting of glaciers;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the details of policy and action plan adopted by the Government to control the melting of glaciers?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)  &  (b):  In  a  collaborative  project  with  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change (MoEF&CC),  lndian  Space  Research  Organisation (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  being  further  monitored  as  part  of  a  new  project  entitled  'Integrated  Studies  of Himalayan  Cryosphere  using  Space  based  inputs  and  Impact  Assessment  due  to  Climate Change' funded by the Department of Space.

(c) & (d): As per the information received from Geological Survey of India, natural disasters like Kedarnath  disaster  cannot  be  directly  attributed  to  the  melting  of  glaciers.  Kedarnath  disaster could  be  the  combined  result  of  very  heavy  rainfall  on  two  consecutive  days  and  subsequent

- bursting of the 'Chorabari or Gandhi Sarovar' lake which was located between the valley wall and the lateral moraine of the glacier.

(e):  The  National  Mission  for  Sustaining  the  Himalayan  Ecosystem  (NMSHE) under 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.  Also,  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.

*****