Central committee approves GLOF risk mitigation project of Rs. 150 cr for four Himalayan States

GANGTOK,: Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba sought replies from Jal Shakti Ministry on measures taken or planned to mitigate the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in vulnerable Himalayan regions including Sikkim. He also asked if any studies have been commissioned to assess the impact of GLOF on existing and proposed Himalayan infrastructure, particularly in light of the Teesta-III hydro-electric dam collapse in North Sikkim in October 2023.

In his written reply on Thursday, Raj Bhusan Choudhary, the Minister of State (MoS) for Jal Shakti, stated: “Subsequent to Teesta-III Hydroelectric dam collapse in October, 2023, Central Water Commission (CWC) has decided to review the design flood of all the existing and under construction dams vulnerable to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) to ensure their adequate spillway capacity for a combination of Probable Maximum Flood/Standard Probable Flood and GLOF. Further, GLOF studies have been made mandatory for all new dams planned having glacial lakes in their catchments.”

The CWC monitors 902 glacial lakes and water bodies during the period from June to October every year. This enables the detection of relative change in water spread area of glacial lakes and water bodies, as well as identifying the one’s which have expanded substantially during the monitoring month, from disaster perspective. The monthly monitoring reports can be accessed at the commission’s website.

The MoS informed that a Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction (CoDRR) under NDMA involving representatives from six Himalayan States/UTs and other stakeholders, has identified a set of high risk glacial lakes for sending expeditions to directly assess these lakes and prepare comprehensive mitigation strategies in terms of setting up early warning system/other structural and non-structural measures.

A High Level Committee Chaired by Union Home Minister has approved a GLOF risk mitigation project for Rs 150 crores for the States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to support the efforts of State Governments to take up various mitigation measures related to GLOF, said Choudhary.

He further informed that in a National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) sponsored study entitled "Snow and Glacier Contribution and Impact of Climate Change in Teesta River Basin, Eastern Himalaya", status of glacial lakes in Sikkim Himalayas has been prepared by National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee.