NGT flags unstable hanging glaciers in Himalayas

Dehradun: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports highlighting environmental risks posed by unstable hanging glaciers in central Himalayas.

The principal bench of chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad on Friday noted that a recent study referred in these reports identified 219 hanging glaciers in Uttarakhand’s Alaknanda basin – a key headstream region of the Ganga – and warned that unstable glaciers on steep slopes could trigger destructive avalanches and downstream disasters.

The matter has been scheduled for hearing on Aug 6.Notably, TOI was among the first to report the risks posed by hanging glaciers. The reports referred to a research, published in the Nature’s ‘Natural Hazards’ journal, with contributions from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar and Defence Research and Development Organisation.The study highlighted increasing risks due to glacier retreat, seismic sensitivity and rapid expansion of human settlements and infrastructure in vulnerable high-altitude regions such as Badrinath, Mana and Hanuman Chatti.

The tribunal noted that researchers used satellite imagery, elevation models and avalanche simulations to estimate the farthest reach of potential ice avalanches and their likely impact.It also noted the findings that built-up areas within vulnerable zones have expanded sharply, from about 8,000 sqm in 2000 to over 150,000 sqm projected by 2030, with Badrinath-Mana stretch particularly showing significant growth.The tribunal reproduced central findings cited in the report, including that glacier retreat has caused tributary glaciers to detach from trunk glaciers and destabilised mountain-side glaciers that were previously stable. It noted that such instability is often expressed through snow or ice avalanches, a process typical of hanging glaciers, but one that becomes hazardous when it occurs near settlements or infrastructure in a basin marked by high seismicity.Holding that the news reports indicated violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and raised substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of scheduled enactments, the NGT invoked the Supreme Court ruling in municipal corporation of Greater Mumbai vs Ankita Sinha to affirm its power to act suo motu.NGT impleaded six respondents: The ministry of environment, forest and climate change, Dehradun; Central Pollution Control Board; Uttarakhand tourism development board; National Mission for Clean Ganga; Uttarakhand urban development department; and the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee. It issued notices directing them to file replies by affidavit at least one week before the next hearing.