| GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK
SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 559
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21-10-2008
PROTECTION
OF HIMALAYAN GLACIERS
559. SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN:
Will the Minister
of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether a number of
research projects have been carried on 'Himalayan Glaciers';
(b) if so, the
details alongwith the amount spent for the same during each of the last three
years and the current year;
(c) whether the researches have indicated that
the glaciers are receding gradually;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(e)
the contribution/efforts made by the Government to protect the Himalayan Glaciers
from receding? ANSWER
MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER
OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL) (a) & (b): Yes, Sir.
The list of projects along with total cost of the projects sanctioned during the
last three years is enclosed as Annexure I. (c) Geological Survey of India
reports an average recession of 10.2m/year from 1935 to 1996 and 27.33m/year between
1956 to 1971 for Gangotri Glacier. Jawaharlal Nehru University reports an average
recession of 17.15m/year from 1971 to 2004 for Gangotri Glacier.
(d) &
(e): National Action Plan for Climate Change formulated by the Government of India
has envisioned a National Mission on Himalayan Ecosystem. ANNEXURE-I List
of Projects sanctioned under Himalayan Glaciology Programme during
2005-06 Sl.No | File
No. | Project
Title | PI's
name and Address | Total
Cost
(in Rs. ) | Date
of Sanction | Duration | | 1 | ES/91/27/2004 | Monitoring
temporal & spatial variations in Snow Cover in Indian Himalaya through Satellite
Remote Sensing | Sh. S.K.S. Yadav, RSAC-UP,
Sector-G, Janakipuram, Kursi Road, Lucknow-226021 | 74,97,000 | 2.2.2006 | 36
months |
List of Projects sanctioned
under Himalayan Glaciology Programme during
2006-07 Sl.No | File
No. | Project
Title | PI's
name and Address | Total
Cost
(in Rs. ) | Date
of Sanction | Duration | | 1 | ES/91/36/2005 | Deglaciation
and associated consequences on future water scenaries: a case study of Gangotri
Glacier. | Dr. A.L. Ramanathan, School of
Environmental Sciences, JNU, New Delhi-110067. | 26,58,401/- | 1.3.2007 | 36
months | | 2 | ES/91/31/2003 | Inter
and Intra-Annual seasonal Variabilityand its effect on Snow cover. A case study
of Kangriz glacier Basin, Zanskar Ranges, Ladakh | Dr.
R.K. Ganjoo, D/o Geology, Jammu Univ., Jammu-180006. | 52,29,608/- | 1.1.2007 | 36
months | | 3 | ES/91/26/2004 | Monitoring
Dynamics of Surging glaciers in Indian Himalaya through Optical Remote Sensing
and Geographical Information system. | Shri
Ramachandra, RSAC-UP, Sector-G, Janakipuram, Kursi Road, Lucknow-226021. | 22,03,000/- | 25.4.2006 | 36
months |
List of Projects sanctioned under Himalayan
Glaciology Programme during 2007-08 Sl.No | File
No. | Project
Title | PI's
name and Address | Total
Cost
(in Rs. ) | Date
of Sanction | Duration | 1 | ES/91/03/2006
| Study of Atmospheric and Avalanche Parameter
affecting Gangotri Glacier | Dr. A. Ganju,
Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment, Himparisar, Sector 37-A, Chandigarh-
160036. | 58,65,440/- | 14.11.2007 | 36
months | 2 | ES/91/37/2005 | Preliminary
Glaciological Geomorphological and Hydrological study of Zemu Glacier, Sikkim. | Dr.
P.K. Gupta, Asstt. Director, Central Mining Research Institute, Barwa Road, Dhanbad-826001. | 24,24,625/- | 24.8.2007 | 36
months | 3 | ES/91/02/2006
| Glacier front (Snout) Vari- ation of Sonapani
and Gaglee Glaciers in Chand- ra Valley, Lahul & Spiti district, H.P. | Dr.
Alpna C. Scott, D/o Geography, Isabella Thoburn, P.G. College, Lucknow-226007. | 30,19,803/- | 22.08.2007 | 36
months | 4 | ES/91/01/2006 | Spatio-temporal
monitoring of a glacier using integrated approach from satellite remote sensing
and insitu measurement techniques. | Dr.
L.N. SharmaD/o Applied Scien-ces, Punjab Engg. College, Sector-12,Chandigarh. | 82,00,820/- | 21.8.2007 | 36
months | 5 | ES/91/38/2005 | Analysis
of Temporal variation of climate vis-a- vis Glacial Fluctuations in the North-East
and North-West Himalaya based on multi proxy records. | Dr.
Amalav Bhatta- charya, BSIP, 53, Univ. Road, Lucknow-226007. | 25,54,927/- | 26.07.2007 | 36
months |
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