Dehradun: Rising global temperatures are ravaging the Himalayas and glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. Global warming is becoming a major concern not only for the world but also for India.
It has impacted our glaciers directly. For the past few years, the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) has been conducting research on glaciers, which has brought out many surprising facts.
The findings of this study is a matter of concern not only for wildlife and flora in the high Himalayan regions but for the whole of the country.
Himalayan glaciers recede at alarming rate due to global warming USAC Director Dr MPS Bisht informed that the glaciers are being affected by the way the temperature is increasing due to global warming.
In recent research conducted by scientists of USAC, it has come out that due to climate change-induced rise in temperature, the area of eight glaciers of Nanda Devi biosphere has been reduced by 26 per cent.
This simply means that our glaciers are sliding backwards.
Glaciers of Nanda Devi region in Uttarakhand According to the research, the glaciers are shrinking at a rate of 5 to 30 meters per year.
Reasons for glacier melting
The biggest reason for the melting of glaciers is human negligence.
The Himalayan regions are dotted with concrete structures, which are one of the reasons for the rise in temperature. This is the reason why glaciers are rapidly melting.
It is also worth noting that trekking as a hobby has become more popular among the people in recent years.
As a result, a large number of people go to the higher Himalayan regions for trekking. As people’s movement increases, dirt also gets accumulated in the trekking area.
The pre-monsoon season fire in the forests is also a big reason for the melting of glaciers.
Fire in forests increases air temperature which melts glaciers. No doubt, human errors and negligence are largely responsible for the fire in the forests. Pine trees are also no less a cause for forest fires.
Every year there is a decrease in the number of trees, which maintain moisture in the atmosphere.
It is also a big reason for climatic imbalance. Similarly, thousands of trees have been cut in the name of making all-weather roads.
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand The felling of trees is reducing greenery and the temperature is increasing, which has a direct impact on the glacier.
Steps need to be taken
- Movement of tourists in high Himalayan regions should be controlled.
- Ecotourism should be encouraged.
- It is necessary to check the fire that occurs in the forests every year.
- There is a need to enact the law to ban construction in mountains.
Noted environmentalist Kalyan Singh Rawat has expressed his deep concern over the rapidly melting glaciers.
He is of the view that the cutting of trees is increasing in the Himalayan regions of Uttarakhand, due to which the temperature is rising here.
He also feels that pine forests are spreading rapidly in the state, while mixed forests that produce moisture in the air are constantly getting reduced.
This is the reason that the eight glaciers in the Nanda Devi biosphere are rapidly melting.
He said that as long as we do not control forest fires and stop tourism activities in the high Himalayan regions, till then our glaciers will be in the crisis.
'Need to promote eco-tourism'
Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj admits that eight glaciers of Nanda Devi biosphere are melting due to global warming, which is a matter of concern.
He has also talked about the promotion of eco-tourism.
Increasing tourism activities over the years in Uttarakhand and forests blaze year after year are causing the melting of glaciers in Nanda Devi biosphere.
The government needs to worry about melting glaciers. If this issue does not get timely attention, then Uttarakhand will be left with no drinking water in the time to come which is definitely a matter of concern.
Also Read:Glaciers are melting fast in Kumaun's Pachachuli
