ET Plus Report
Srinagar, Mar 9: Glaciers in Kashmir are melting fast due to Global warming causing water levels of the streams and rivers drop by two-third, a research carried by National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal, Hyderabad reveals. "Many of the areas have seen complete disappearance of small glaciers while in other, the thickness of the glaciers has been reduced to over one-fourth of the original thickness," said Muneer Ahmad, a researcher at NGRI, Hyderabad. Muneer who has carried an extensive research on Kolahoi Glacier in south Kashmir, said, "Hundreds of the springs spread all over the valley have dried up or are in the process of drying up. The water level in the south Kashmir springs has substantially decreased, many have completely dried and some are at the verge of disappearance, if the same trend continues it will create water shortage in the region in near future."
"The tend will ultimately end up in vanishing of he glaciers," he warned, adding, "The decreased water level is an outcome of the glacier retreat in the valley." The other reason for meltdown of Valley glaciers according to Munner is less quantity of snowfall over the last few decades. "Cement plants are producing heat trapping gases that could lead to no snow in the plains over the next two decades. As the maximum of the cement plants are concentrated in south Kashmir, glaciers in that region would suffer more," he said. According to Muneer emission of green house gases is the biggest threat to ecology and environment of the valley. Kashmir Himalayas have the highest number of glaciers in the Indian sub-continent and thus feed many important rivers of northern India. "All the glaciers of Kashmir Himalayas are in the process of retreat due to the dramatic increase in the temperature. Kolahoi glacier is one among the largest and important glaciers of the Kashmir Himalayas. The glacier is in the process of fast retreat since 19th century but during the last decade the rate of the recession has increased," the research reveals.
With Global Warming, glaciers are receding at an alarming rate. "Therefore detailed data on the contribution of sediments from glaciated zone of Kashmir rivers has to be taken into consideration while planning an execution of Hydro electric power projects," the research suggested. "Qualitative and quantitative data of glaciers and snow melt water in long way goes in planning, estimating and forecasting the power generation of glaciated river basin well in advance," it said.
However, the research reveals that despite having large number of glaciers in our state, such data is almost negligible at present. |
