GoI sanctions climate research project on GLOF risks in J&K

New Delhi, Jul 29: The Government of India (GoI) on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that it is undertaking a major climate change research project in Jammu and Kashmir under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), aimed at assessing the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) across the Indian Himalayan Region.
The information was provided by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha raised by Jugal Kishore on “Research Projects in Jammu and Kashmir”.
Replying to the query on whether the government is conducting research projects in various regions of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, to study the impacts of climate change, the minister, said that under the Hydrology and Cryosphere Programme, the ministry sanctioned a joint project in 2022 to the University of Kashmir and IIT Roorkee titled, “Identifying current and future GLOF risk over contrasting topographic and climate zones of Indian Himalaya using Earth observation data and modelling.” The project has been approved at a total cost of Rs 91.2 lakh.
The minister said the study aims to develop and implement a comprehensive methodological approach to investigate glacial lakes across different time scales and assess their hazard potential using physically based models in contrasting climatological, geomorphological and topographic zones across the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
According to the reply, the project is expected to improve understanding and prediction of glacial lake formation and assess the associated hazards and risks to downstream areas inhabited by human populations and critical infrastructure.
The government further informed Parliament that Rs 62.03 lakh has been released for the project during the last three years.
The questions raised by MP Jugal Kishore sought to know whether the government is conducting climate change research projects in Jammu and Kashmir and other regions of the country, the details of such projects, and the funds allocated for them during the last three years. (KNO)