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First commission on study of glaciers launched by Sikkim
Gangtok | Thursday, Jan 17 2008 IST

Sikkim government today launched the first commission in the country to study the melting of Sikkim Himalayan glaciers and its impact.

''Ours is the first and only state to take this initiative, which can take national and global dimension,'' Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said while inaugurating the meeting of the eight-member commission.

Prof S I Hasnain, senior fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi heads the commission, which includes experts from ISRO, JNU and other national institutes. The commission has been empowered to review the current state of glaciers, snowmelt and potential impact of climate change on the Sikkim Himalayan region. The state has 84 glaciers, the largest number in the country, covering an area of 691 sq km with a snowfield area of 251 sq kms acting as natural reservoirs for water supply to the major river systems in the state. The largest glacier, Zemu, covers an area of 116.8 sq kms.

Besides affecting the livelihood of a huge mass of the hill population, the glaciers meltdown can be disastrous for the array of hydel power plants being constructed in Teesta river and other river basins of the state and neighbouring states. After a study, the committee would suggest measures for modern, scientific and technological interventions on the issue of glaciology management and draw up an action plan. The commission would submit its recommendations by December, this year and be implemented soon, Mr Chamling said.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the bio-diversity richness of the Himalayan state and added that the global climatic changes might adversely affect the system.

Commission chairman Prof Hasnain said they would also be making a detailed inventory of glacial lakes and wetlands in the state by placing hydrometer stations and Met stations near the glacial systems.

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Sikkim to assess its carbon credit for global support
Gangtok | Friday, Jan 18 2008 IST

In a bid to conserve the lush green forest cover and produce clean hydel power in the state, the Sikkim government will assess the entire carbon credit earned by the state so far. ''''We are seriously thinking to carry out assessment of the entire carbon credit that we have earned in the process and put the entire clean development mechanism we follow in carbon trading. This will bring us fame, resources and technology,'''' Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said. The Chief Minister highlighted his government''s efforts in expanding the state''s forest cover to 46 per cent and emphasised on hydel power generation to reduce overall carbon dioxide emission in the country. ''''Sikkim is trying to contribute significantly by setting up hydel power generation to the tune of 8,000 MW in a phased manner after taking all environmental safeguards. This will be a big contribution to the nation in overall carbon dioxide budgeting,'''' he said. Mr Chamling added that by adopting these procedures, Sikkim would be preventing the carbon dioxide emission in a ''''big way''''.

''''And whatever industries we have, they do not add to the global warming process in any way. So, we should be encouraged to consolidate the practice of clean development mechanism. This means our efforts should be supported,'''' he said. The second component of the state''s clean development mechanism would be the stringent efforts to conserve and expand its forest cover. ''''Forests are the one of the richest natural resources and more than 46 per cent of the state''s geographical area is under forest cover with a per capita forest cover of 0.61 hectare against the national average of 0.08 hectare. The many environmental initiatives over the years have resulted in an increase of the forest cover by two per cent, from 43.95 per cent in 1993-94, to 45.97 per cent in 2005-06,'''' Mr Chamling said.

He also emphasised on the need of awareness about the value of forests, which should be reflected in the economic planning and adequately compensated under the clean development mechanism.

According to a study conducted in the Western Himalayas, an average value of 1,150 dollar (Rs 46,000) per hectare per year is estimated for the ecological services provided by the forests. ''''By the same token, Sikkim''s forests would render a service of value approximately to the tune of Rs 1,500 crores per year. Having taken adequate steps to protect and conserve the forests, there is a need to evaluate and quantify the services rendered by our forest ecosystem,'''' Mr Chamling said. ''''For us in Sikkim, the issue of carbon trading is very vital as we have been practising clean development mechanism,'''' the Chief Minister claimed.

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Glaciers on study table  OUR CORRESPONDENT

The Zemu glacier

Gangtok, Sept. 17: The Sikkim government has constituted a commission to study the glaciers in the state and their impact on the river system amid fear that the glaciers are melting at a faster rate.

The commission will be headed by S.I. Hasnain, senior fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, and comprise scientists and environmentalists from across the country. The members include Mahendra P. Lama, the vice-chancellor of the central university in Sikkim, and the former chief secretary of the state, K.C. Pradhan.

Apart from reviewing the current status of the glaciers and snowmelts, the commission will also study the impact of climate change on the mountain eco-system. It will suggest the scientific and technological intervention and human resource generation required for better management of the environment.

The commission has been asked to submit its recommendations by December 2008 .

The development comes in the wake of unconfirmed reports that the Zemu glacier in North Sikkim, which is the source of the Teesta, was melting at a faster rate than before, leading to flash floods. Last month, two bridges were washed away by the Zemu Chu, or Teesta, at Zema in the North district.

Sikkim has a large number of glaciers and they act as natural reservoirs and supply water to the major rivers of the state.

The state government’s announcement regarding the formation of the commission referred to the “receding glaciers” and “recurring phenomenon of glacial lake outbursts and floods that have been recorded in the entire eastern Himalayan region”. It added that such a phenomenon could impact people’s livelihood and the “array of hydel power plants that are being built on the Teesta and other river basins” in Sikkim

The telegraph, 18.01.2008, Siliguri edition

Glacier experts ready  OUR CORRESPONDENT

Gangtok, Jan. 17: The Sikkim government today formally set up an eight-member commission to conduct a study on Himalayan glaciers and the impact of snow meltdown in the state.

“Sikkim is the only state in the country to have taken the initiative,” chief minister Pawan Chamling said during the inaugural meeting here.

S.I. Hasnain, senior fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, heads the panel, which has experts from Isro too. Sikkim has 84 glaciers, extending to 691sqkm and a snowfield of 251sqkm. These glaciers act as natural reservoirs and supply water to the major river systems in the state.

After its study, the committee will suggest measures on glacier management and draw up an action plan that will be submitted by December

Sikkim Express

1^st meeting of state glaciers & climate change commission held.

“Climate change can have serious impacts on mountain biodiversity”-Chamling

GANGTOK, January 17: Sikkim will soon begin work on preparing an inventory on glaciers and assessment of its retreat mechanism.

This was announced by Prof. SI Hasnain, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi and the chairman of the Glaciers & Climate Change Commission here today.

The nine-member Commission, set up by the Sikkim Government in September 2007 to study the state of the glaciers and its impact on water system in this tiny Himalayan State, held its first meeting here today.

With the setting up of this high-level Commission, Sikkim has become the first State in the country to take up issue of global warming and its effects on the glaciers of the Himalayas in right earnest.

While delivering his lecture on the impacts of climate change on glaciers, ecosystem and livelihood in Sikkim, Prof. Hasnain said that the research and data generated on this pertinent subject will bring in a new era in the institutionalising studies in climatic changes in the country. “Sikkim has become the torchbearer in the field of climate change and its impact on Himalayan glaciers. The State responded well in time to find ways and means to tackle this global phenomenon,” he said.

In his keynote address, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said that like people living in the Himalayas who intermingle and interact with the sublime nature on a daily basis, the Sikkimese people have observed the growing impact of global warming as it manifests in  erratic climatic behaviour, irregularity in the food chain system, unseasonal river floodings, landslides etc. “With a sense of heightened urgency, we have been called upon to think clear and act tough on issues of safeguarding environmental sanctity in this region and generate abounding global commitment towards effective measures to contain global warming,” he said.

Sikkim which accounts for only 0.5 percent of total geographical area of the Country with little over five and a half lakhs population has always remained the custodian of Himalayan ecosystem, the CM said.

 “We provide environmental security to the entire eastern Himalayan region of the Country. We have taken up this responsibility to address the global concern of climate change by finding some durable mechanism to address it,” he said.

Citing the report of Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007 regarding global warming and glacial melting has raised serious concern in matters that directly affect the State, the CM said that his Government is ever responsive to the pattern of receding glaciers and recurring phenomenon of glacial lake outburst floods that have been recorded in the entire Himalayan region.

Considering the fact that Sikkim hosts over 26 percent of the country’s biodiversity, it can ill afford to act casually on such a crucial issue. “Climate change can have serious impacts on mountain biodiversity as it causes the retreat and sometimes disappearance of alpine species that become trapped on mountain summits,” Mr. Chamling said.

In fact, the State Government had written to Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh in August last year expressing it’s keenness to be associated with the working of the high level advisory group on climate change known as Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change constituted by the Union Government. Mr. Chamling also outlined the various initiatives taken up by his Government after 1995 towards environmental conservation.

“The Sikkim Government has not only made steady progress to improve the people’s standard of  living by providing quality health, education etc but has always been a staunch supporter of environmental conservation sustainable management of natural resources for the general well being of the people of the State,” the CM said.

“What I want to clearly state is the fact that glacial erosion and melting is a local problem as it affects us more seriously and acutely than anyone else. But this local problem requires a global solution. Countries and people who are responsible for it must come to our aid and assist us in fighting and tackling this disastrous phenomenon of melting Himalayas. This is where the question of global governance also comes in more prominently,” Mr. Chamling stressed.

“We will have to change our ways and switch to a non-carbon path which requires a multidisciplinary and holistic approach with proper combination of science and the society. This means going green without sacrificing growth and prosperity. The civil society needs to create awareness among people and prepare them for change. If people are prepared and aware, change will come dramatically. The consuming class has to change its lifestyle to consume less. In some cases, viable alternative livelihoods must be presented to the people,” he said.

Sikkim has large number of glaciers and they act as natural reservoirs for supply of water to major river systems of the State. As per the study carried out by Department of Science & Technology in the State, Sikkim has 84 glaciers covering an area of 440 sq km.

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

The Commission will also compile collation of information from primary and secondary sources on glaciology, assess the potential impacts of climate change on mountain eco-system and livelihood in Sikkim, and suggest inter-disciplinary steps and remedial measures for dealing with these impacts and identify the scope and issues of collaborative research on glacier systems and related dynamics, along with the regional, national and international institutes with which the studies and management parameters of glaciology could be carried out as collaborative ventures.

Setting up of preliminary data base and suggest the structures of Climate Change Unit in the State, and suggest measures for modem scientific and technological interventions on the issue of glaciology management in the context of emerging Climate Change Pattern will also be part of the responsibility of the Commission.

The Commission will give its recommendations by the end of December 2008.

Other members of the Committee include: Dr. AV Kulkarni, Senior Scientist (Glaciology), Space Application Centre, Department of Space, Ahmedabad; Dr. Pradeep Mool, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Dr. Milapchand Sharma, Associate Professor, Centre for Studies of Regional Development, JNU, New Delhi; Prof. Mahendra P Lama, Vice Chancellor, Central University, Sikkim and representatives from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun and the National Institute of Hydrology.

The Himalayan Beacon

Glacier experts ready for glaciers of Sikkim

Posted by barunroy on January 18, 2008

Zemu Glacier

Gangtok, Jan. 17: The Sikkim government today formally set up an eight-member commission to conduct a study on Himalayan glaciers and the impact of snow meltdown in the state.

“Sikkim is the only state in the country to have taken the initiative,” chief minister Pawan Chamling said during the inaugural meeting here.

S.I. Hasnain, senior fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, heads the panel, which has experts from ISRO too. Sikkim has 84 glaciers, extending to 691sqkm and a snowfield of 251sqkm. These glaciers act as natural reservoirs and supply water to the major river systems in the state.

After its study, the committee will suggest measures on glacier management and draw up an action plan that will be submitted by December.