Himalayan glaciers retreating at alarming rate: Parliamentary panel

A Parliamentary panel has recommended Centre to make equate financial allocation and infrastructure available for an extensive study of Himalayan ecosystem to measure extent of glacial retreat and ways to mitigate its effects.

ting that glaciers in Himalayan region are retreating at an "alarming rate" and that re is a need to regulate tourism activities, panel has also suggested Centre to constitute a committee of experts to formulate guidelines to be observed while preparing romap for Himalayan Eco-tourism.

Committee on Estimates (2018-19) in its 30th report on performance of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) said urgent steps are required to create a mechanism involving all stakeholders who are directly or indirectly affected by changes in Himalayan system so that integrated approach is opted in entire region.

Such a platform will need international cooperation from all countries falling in or connected to Himalayan range, it pointed out.

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panel chaired by senior BJP leer Murli Mahar Joshi ted that "reckless and irresponsible" tourism in Himalayan ecosystem is one of major reasons for environmental degration and asserted that with construction of ros and luxurious amenities for tourists, number of people visiting has vastly increased which is increasing pressure on ecosystem.

As a result of a large number of visitors, ros, houses, hotels, and resorts - all of se have to be constructed by cutting mountains and many of se constructions are t as per specifications for mountains but are more inspired by plain areas, panel said.

It recommended public awareness campaigns for sensitising people about vulnerability of Himalayan region and need for sustainable tourism be undertaken by government.

" committee, refore, recommends that equate financial allocation be me and equate infrastructure be created for extensive study of Himalayan ecosystem to measure retreat of all glaciers existing in region and ways to mitigate its effects.

"Besides re is a need to regulate Himalayan eco-tourism. A committee comprising experts should be constituted to formulate guidelines to be observed while preparing romap for Himalayan eco-tourism," committee said.

Quoting media reports, committee said due to glacial retreat, Himalayan region has lost 13 percent of its glaciers in last four deces resulting in loss of 443 billion tonnes (GT) glacial ice.

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rate of retreat of glaciers in region, which varies from glacier to glacier, ranges from a few meters to almost 61 m/year, it said ding if same rate continues it is apprehended that glaciers are likely to disappear by year 2035.

It is also reported that rate of glacial loss in Himalayas has accelerated over deces, from around 9 GT/year in 1975-85 to 20 Gt/year in 2000-2010, it said.

It also ded that glaciers are reported to be retreating faster in Western Himalayas than in Sikkim and asserted that effect of glacial retreat and ir eventual disappearance will change wear pattern and be catastrophic for entire region affecting crop cycles, ecomic development, health, water availability, wear among ors.