India and Depleting Himalayan Glaciers

Unchecked emission of greenhouse gases has quickened the loss of Himalayan glaciers by 66 per cent in the last decade. This has come to light in a study conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The national space agency found from the satellite data between 1984 and 2023 that glaciers in the Himalayas have retreated and thinned at an alarming rate, expanding glacial lakes and also creating new ones, thus posing a serious threat to the very existence of this part of the world. It posed twin challenges to one of the ancient civilisations of the world, which has flourished over the ages with favourable climatic conditions. Firstly, the melting of glaciers will diminish the fresh water sources which in turn will make this fertile subcontinent barren. Secondly, it will increase the threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) as experienced recently when South Lhonak Lake flooded due to a heavy melting of snow, completely destroying the Chungthang dam in Sikkim and causing enormous loss of lives and properties.

This brings to light the urgent need to formulate a comprehensive policy to prevent the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas. On its part, India should drastically reduce the greenhouse gas emission rate. The country’s plan to switch to alternative sources of energy by discarding fossil fuels should be implemented before it is too late. With the climate change already visible, any delay in taking up preventive measures may prove catastrophic. The data provided by the ISRO about the Himalayan glaciers may help in combating the climate menace. India should play a proactive role to thwart the impending disaster, as it will be affected the most in case of such a phenomenon. The rivers, which originate from the Himalayas, make the land in the subcontinent as one of the most fertile in the world. Any disturbance to this will affect agriculture and livelihood of the people.

Well, we are witnessing all these changes due to global warming, and no country can combat this vexed problem single-handedly. A united effort is pertinent to protect the glaciers from melting. We have seen many earth summits failing to make much impact due to lack of preventive measures over no unanimity in funding. Besides that, there is still no consensus over complete banning of fossil fuel, the major source of greenhouse gas emission. The issue was hotly debated in the last earth summit held in Doha but it ended without taking any concrete decision on the use of fossil fuel. As time is running out, with an agreement on this crucial issue keeps delaying, India should take the leading role in preventing the depletion of the Himalayan glaciers.