Shimla: Climate change and the melting of glaciers are causing an alarming rise in the number of lakes in the Himalayas. Due to the melting of the glaciers, the water takes the shape of the lake. If these lakes get filled with more water, then there is a possibility of their bursting. A latest stated that the number of lakes increased to 995 in the Sutlej basin alone.
The rising number of lakes poses the threat of more catastrophic floods like the ones experienced in Kedarnath in 2013. The number of lakes increasing to 995 in the Sutlej basin is considered a matter of grave concern. In 2019, there were 242 lakes in the Chenab Valley comprising Chandra, Bhaga and Miyar sub-basins. Out of this, there were 52 lakes in Chandra, 84 in Bhaga and 139 in the Miyar sub-basin. Now the number of lakes has increased in these areas also.
Upper Beas, Jeeva, and Parvati Valleys are located in Beas Valley. There were 93 lakes here in 2019. There were 12 lakes in Upper Beas, 41 in Jeeva and 37 in Parvati sub-basin. In 2019, the number of lakes had increased by 43 per cent as compared to the year 2018.
The Himalayan region is environmentally sensitive. The number of lakes with an area of more than ten hectares in the Sutlej basin is alarming. The number of these lakes has increased to 62 from 49 in over five years. According to Himcast's Senior Scientific Officer Dr. SS Randhawa, the number of lakes in the Sutlej basin has increased to 995. These are worrying signs. Due to the increase in temperature in the Himalayan regions, the rate of melting of glaciers increases.
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However, due to good snowfall in the year 2019, the snow cover has also increased in the Himalayan regions. Then the snow cover area on Sutlej, Chenab, Beas and Ravi river basins increased by more than 26 per cent. Glaciers get breath due to increasing snow cover. Apart from the four major rivers of Himachal Pradesh namely Chenab, Beas, Sutlej and Ravi basins, surveys are conducted regarding snow cover in Bhaga, Chandra, Miyan, Jiva, Spiti, Pin, Beas, Parvati, Ravi, Baspa rivers.
In such a situation, a catastrophic flood causes a terrible disaster. The Kedarnath flood took place in the past due to the bursting of a small lake in front of the Chorabari glacier. The wounds of that accident are still fresh. At the same time, Himachal Pradesh has also seen the Parchu flood. There was a loss of Rs 800 crore in that flood.
