PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Raising the issue of shrinking Himalayan glaciers in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour on Friday, the MP from Haridwar and former chief minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat said that things were very serious, warranting corrective actions from the Centre. “Himalayas, which are called the Water Tower of Asia, are now facing a grim crisis due to climate change,” he said.
Citing scientific studies, he said that the area occupied by the glaciers have shrunk by 15/20 per cent over the past few decades. “Not just this but the small glaciers are disappearing. Things in Uttarakhand are quite worrisome,” he said. He suggested monitoring of the glacial lakes through satellites and installation of early warning systems for the vulnerable glaciers on a priority basis. He also stressed on the need to boost long-term studies and data collection on the shrinking glaciers. “These are all imperatives to mitigate the extent of disasters and the havoc they may do in future,” he said.
This aside, Rawat underscored the need to draw up a common disaster policy for the Himalayan states involving the participation of the common people.
He expressed the hope that the Centre would take effective steps regarding this extremely sensitive issue which would go a long way in protecting the Himalayas from the vagaries of changing climate.
