Department of Science and Technology

GLACIER & CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION, SIKKIM

Effects of climate change like unseasonal rainfall, lake outbursts, rising temperatures, increased flooding, rock avalanches from destabilized slopes leading to road blockages are already being experienced in Sikkim. Very few studies have been conducted in Sikkim regarding the impacts of climate change so far. It is imperative that the state builds a knowledge database on the climate change for the state so that it can prepare itself for reducing the impacts and adapting to the forecasted changes.

Because of the gigantic challenges and very imminent dangers that we face today, the Government of Sikkim has, on its own initiative constituted a Commission in September, 2007 to study the state of Glaciers and its impact on water system in Sikkim under the Chairmanship of Prof. S.I.Hasnain.

The structure and composition of the Commission is as follows

Prof. S. I. Hasnain,

Senior Fellow & Former Vice Chancellor, Calicut University,

Centre for Policy Research, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

Chairman

Prof. Mahendra P.Lama,

Vice Chancellor, Sikkim University.

Member

Shri. K. C. Pradhan,

Former Chief Secretary to the Govt of Sikkim.

Member

Shri M.L.Arrawatia,

Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Member Secretary, Government of Sikkim, Gangtok.

Member

Director or his representative,

Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, No 33, General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Member

Director or his representative,

National Institute of Hydrology, Jai Vigyan Bhawan, Roorkee, Uttarakhand.

Member

Dr. Anil. V. Kulkarni,

Sr. Scientist (Glaciology), Space Application Centre, Department of Space, Government of India, Ahmedabad.

Member

Dr. Milapchand Sharma,

Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

NewDelhi 110 067.

Member

The Commission will function with the following objective, “to assess the seasonal and long term water resources in snow and glacier fed rivers originating in the Sikkim region, and to determine strategies for coping with impacts of climate change induced deglaciation on the livelihood of people in the state”.

The Commission will review the current status of Glaciers and snowmelt and potential impact of climate change on mountain eco-system. It would also suggest measures for modern scientific and technological interventions and actions required on human resources generation, training and management that would cater to glaciology and related environmental management.

The first meeting of Glacier & Climate Change Commission was held in Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok on 17^th and 18^th January, 2008. During the full commission meeting, the plan of action of the Commission was discussed in the presence of various Central and State Government Departments, NGO’s and others. The various studies that would be taken up by the Commission are as follows

• Mass Balance Measurement

• Hydrological studies

• Meteorological Studies

• Inventory of Glacier lakes and wetlands in Sikkim

• Regional hydrological modelling

• Livelihood Studies

GUIDING VISION OF THE COMMISSION

Natural and Social Scientists should take a holistic view of Climate Change, fill in major gaps in knowledge, and seek practical solution to the increasingly challenging issues that confront humans and ecosystem.

Hon’ble Chief Minister Inaugurating the 1^st Glacier & Climate Change Commission meeting

Hon’ble Chief Minister with Prof. S.I.Hasnain, Chairman of Glacier & Climate Change Commission, Sikkim

Shri M.L.Arrawatia, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology addressing at the inaugural function

Dignitaries at the Inaugural function

Members of Glacier & Climate Change studies Commission

Members and delegates during the full commission meeting

Discussions during full Commission meeting on 18^th Jan, 2008

Representatives from various departments during the meeting