Uttarakhand to set up panel for conserving glaciers

With an aim to conserve the Himalayan glaciers, which a section of scientists believe are receding, the Uttarakhand cabinet today decided to set up a Snow and Glaciers Authority (SGA), a first of its kind in the world.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank.

The proposed SGA would study the impact of climate change on 10 big and nearly 1400 small glaciers in the hill state where 20 per cent geographical land is covered with snow and glaciers and most of the rivers including the mighty Ganga originate from them, an official spokesman said.

The authority would exchange statistics and also ideas in close partnership with neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for better management of water resources, ecology and environment conservation. Besides, the authority is also planning to share data and research related to snow and glaciers with the countries working in the field of climate change at global level.

Renowned experts in the field of snow, glaciers and ecology would also be the part of the authority, which would also coordinate with various concerned government departments.

The authority would take help from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), experts from Chandigarh based snow and avalanche studies establishment, Dehra Dun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, New Delhi-based Jawahar Lal Nehru University and Physical Research Institute at Hyderabad would also be included in the body.

Apart from several big glaciers like 75-km long Gangotri in Uttarkashi district (the origin of Ganga), 30-km long Milaap glacier in Pithoragarh district (origin of Gauriganga), Uttarakhand is home to nearly160 glaciers of 10-km size apart from a number of small glaciers.