Scientists are divided on the interpretation of satellite images released by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) Hyderabad which were accompanied by the surmise about the probability of the formation of a lake on the Alaknanda river near Badrinath.
A team from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) surveyed the site from air and concluded that there was no such lake. However, scientists working on space applications stress that had the information been wrong, the NRSC would not have displayed it on its website where it is still on display.
It will be recalled that on July 10 NRSC had release satellite images of a possible lake formation on Alaknanda below Satopanth glacier west of Badrinath. landslide debris blocking flow of the river were believed to have created a 2553 squar metres but shallow lake on the river. A survey by the district administration ascertained that the flow had not been blocked fully.
An alert was issued in the State and the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna held a meeting with with scientists of Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) to discuss the situation. The CM then ordered regular monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes in the State. However, a team from WIHG conducted an aerial survey on Saturday and said that there had been no lake in the area. Institute scientists said that moraine or avalanche debris may have been mistaken for a water body.
WIHG director AK Gupta confirmed that the institute team had not found any lake in the reported location.
USAC director Dr MM Kimothi said that had the information been wrong, the NRSC would not have uploaded the information on its website or relayed it to Uttarakhand state authorities. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) director YVN Krishna Murthy said that one can get an accurate sense of water bodies through remote sensing depending on the scale and season.
Meanwhile, sources informed that a Garhwal Scouts team has also surveyed the area and found the presence of
the said lake.