NGT Issues Notice Over Expanding Himalayan Glacial Lakes, Natural Disaster Risks

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to the Centre and other relevant authorities regarding the rapid expansion of Himalayan glacial lakes, a development raising concerns about an increased risk of natural disasters, such as floods and landslides.

The NGT took suo motu cognizance based on a news report that highlighted a 10.81% increase in the size of these glacial lakes over the past 13 years due to rising temperatures.

The report indicated that the melting of glaciers, driven by rising temperatures, has led to the formation of larger glacial lakes that store more water, thereby amplifying the risk of catastrophic events such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

These floods pose a significant threat to downstream communities, infrastructure, and biodiversity.

On November 19, a bench consisting of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel observed that the surface area of glacial lakes in India had increased by 33.7% between 2011 and 2024.

The report identified 67 lakes in India that had expanded by over 40% in surface area, placing them in the high-risk category for GLOFs. Regions like Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh have seen the most notable increases.

The tribunal noted the need for urgent action to monitor these lakes more closely, implement early warning systems, and improve flood management strategies to mitigate potential damage. The NGT also highlighted that the situation may involve violations of several environmental laws, including the Biodiversity Act, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, and the Environment Protection Act.

The NGT has issued notices to the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Director of the G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment, and the Central Pollution Control Board.

The respondents are required to file their responses by March 3, 2024, ahead of the next hearing on March 10.

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