*Experts recommend controlled drainage to avoid disaster
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 14: Three glacial lakes in the upper reaches of Kishtwar district are expanding constantly with every passing year and possibility of their outburst in near future cannot be ruled out as such the experts have recommended to the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to start mitigation measures including controlled drainage as early as possible.
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The Government Vide Order No.930-JK(GAD) dated April 4, 2024 constituted Focused Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Monitoring Committee with the direction to review the current status of glacial lakes and identify the vulnerable ones in terms of GLOF as per the list provided by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Further, the committee was asked to suggest the site specific best technical measures to minimize the glacial threat in identified glacial lakes and the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders and to suggest the action required on human resources generation/capacity building towards the study and management of glacial retreat and associated threats.
Following this, series of scientific expeditions were conducted to enhance understanding and preparedness against these potential hazards in different parts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. One such expedition was conducted in respect of three glacial lakes in the upper reaches of Kishtwar district and shocking scenario has come to the fore.
“The detailed study conducted by the experts and analysis of satellite imageries of last 20 years clearly indicate that these three lakes are expanding constantly with every passing year”, sources said while disclosing that 20 years back the size of these glacial lakes was around 10 to 12 square hectares and at present the same has been recorded at 80 to 90 square hectares as such constant expansion is fraught with the danger of outburst and subsequent flooding in all the tributaries of River Chenab.
It is pertinent to mention here that on one side of these glacial lakes there is uninhabited area of Zanskar region of Union Territory of Ladakh and on the other side major area of Kishtwar district particularly Warwan, Dachhan and adjoining areas.
“As enlargement of glacial lakes is threatening the experts have categorized them as most vulnerable keeping in view all the important parameters”, sources further said, adding “as several hydroelectric projects have come up or being constructed on River Chenab and its tributaries the outburst of these lakes can lead to widespread devastation as such the experts have recommended to the Government certain measures on war-footing basis”.
In response to a question, they said, “glacial lakes are formed when a glacier melts and fills the depression it created in the land and these lakes expand primarily due to the melting of glaciers caused by rising temperatures, which results in increased melt-water filling the depressions left behind by retreating glaciers effectively enlarging the lake basin”.
“The experts have recommended controlled drainage of these three lakes so as to prevent their further enlargement. However, while doing so the concerned authorities are required to ensure that impoundment doesn’t get disturbed”, sources informed while laying thrust on initiation of immediate measures in this direction.
Stating that scientific expeditions have played a key role in collecting crucial data and assessing the risks associated with potentially dangerous glacial lakes, sources said that Government has decided to implement mitigation strategy in different phases. The Phase-I has almost been completed with the identification and study of glacial lakes that pose a high risk and Phase-II will focus on developing and implementing specific mitigation measures.
They informed that a fully functional Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Early Warning System (EWS) will also be established to enhance preparedness and the personnel will be trained in the operation and interpretation of EWS, ensuring effective response to potential GLOF events where necessary lake-lowering techniques will be deployed to further mitigate the risks.
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