OUR FOCUS AREA

GLOF risk mitigation in Sikkim
INNOVATIONS IN SCIENCE, POLICY AND PRACTICE

MAIN

Introduction: Wake up call for the Nation
South Lhonak Glacial Flood 2023 catastrophe: IMG

Government’s Vision : Expectation

  • Safeguarding Sikkim from future glacial flood events
  • Early Warning Systems (EWS) can save lives but what about infra?
  • Need to protect mountain infrastructure such as roads, dams, bridges, habitations from future GLOFs
  • Urgency to develop mitigation proposals for GLOF risk reduction
  • Make Sikkim a leader in GLOF risk mitigation

Baseline Status : Status before the initiative

  • Research Focus: DST undertaking glacial hazard assessment studies, SSDMA focusing on preparedness
  • Mitigation Lacking: Capabilities lacking for developing mitigation proposals
  • No Benchmarks Available: Protocol for scientific studies for hazard and risk assessment, mitigation lacking even at national level
  • Community Trust Missing: Local communities fearful that glacial studies would defile sacred lakes thereby trigger GLOFs

Integrating science :

Image 2
Image 3
Image 4

Integrating science :Interdisciplinary and action oriented

  • Standardising Scientific Protocol: Protocol for hazard assessment established to assess lake volume, mass movement hazard and moraine stability by integrating 5 interdisciplinary studies namely morphometric, bathymetric, geophysical, hydrological and susceptibility.
  • Capabilities Developed in Risk Assessment: Capabilities developed in hydrodynamic modelling using HEC-RAS software for modelling flood flow path.
  • Reimagining GLOF Propagation: Studies indicate feasibility of taming the GLOF in the upper reaches using watershed level retention structure.
  • Mitigation Proposals Developed: Integration of science and technology to develop structural mitigation proposals.

Shaping policy:

  • Whole of Government Approach (WGA): Six departments, 2 authorities, 2 central agencies, academia, defense, district administration & local community joined hands as one team. Institutional arrangement of Multi-Disciplinary Task Force (MTF) and High Level Steering Committee (HLSC) notified in Sept 2024.
  • Clarity in Business Rules: Roles and responsibilities of DST and designation as nodal department for GLOF risk mitigation notified in Feb 2025.
  • Bridging Missing Link of Technocrats: Posting of an adept engineering team in DST ensured that mitigation DPRs could be developed.
  • Commission on Glacial Hazards: Constituted with eminent experts for guidance in Sept 2024. Draft report prepared and consultations underway.

Standardising practice:

Image 2
Image 3

Practice:

  • Sikkim 4-Step Approach: Protocol developed for the first time in the country to address GLOF risks involving 4 steps:
    I. Preliminary assessment,
    II. Comprehensive assessment,
    III. Mitigation planning and
    IV. Executing mitigation
  • Samarth Sikkim: State scientists, engineers, and managers have been given leadership roles to encourage self-reliance and sustainable hazard mitigation.

Outputs achieved:

  • Preliminary hazard assessment of glacial lakes.
  • Comprehensive hazard assessment of high risk lakes.
  • GLOF risk mitigation proposals developed:
    • I. Shako Chho solar pumping proposal
    II. Lhonak watershed-level retention structure
Image 2
Image 2
Image 2
Image 2
Image 3

Emerging Outcomes:

  • Capabilities developed for GLOF risk mitigation
    • I. Administrative systems established: Institutional arrangements, Business rules, Roles and responsibilities clearly defined
    II. Technical capab̧ilities developed: Building capacity amongst 6 departments. Sikkim geographers, geologists, ecologists, glaciologists, engineers now have expertise and experience. All studies and DPRs developed in-house without hiring consultants.
    III. Financial assistance accessed: From NGRMP CSS under NDMA/SSDMA
  • One of the biggest contribution to national security.
  • Growing recognition of Sikkim as national leader.

    • Innovations:

    Image 7

    WGA

    Image 8

    SAMARTH

    Image 9

    CaINCLUSIVE

    Image 10

    GLOCAL

    Image 11

    ENABLING SPP

    Image 11

    PATH BREAKING

    List of Supporting Organisation/ Agencies:

    Name of organisation Website
    National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) NDMA- INDIA
    Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) SSDMA- SIKKIM
    Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Govt. of Sikkim LR&DD- SIKKIM
    Mines and Geology Department, Govt. of Sikkim Mines and Geology- SIKKIM
    Forest and Environment Department, Govt. of Sikkim Forest & Environment Department- SIKKIM
    Water Resources and River Development Department, Govt. of Sikkim Water Resource & River Development Department- SIKKIM
    Information & Public Relations Department, Govt. of Sikkim IPR- SIKKIM
    Sikkim University Sikkim University - SIKKIM
    Indian Army, ITBP -

Photographs

1
2
3
3
4

Hosted by
Science and Technology Department, Government of Sikkim
Vigyan Bhawan, Deorali, Gangtok District, Sikkim