With the changing climatic conditions coupled with increasing human interferences, the glaciers in hitherto less traversed Dhauli and Gori valleys in upper Himalayan region of Pithoragarh have also started retreating.As per the reports of the G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), Kosi- Katarmal, Almora, that carried out a study to know the nature and impact of the glaciers in upper Himalayan region of Dhauli and Gori glacier valleys in Pithoragarh, have revealed that there is about 10 percent retreat in these glaciers in recent years.
We carried out a study to look at what changes have taken place in the normal behavior of the glaciers between 2001 and 2011, said Engineer Kireet Kumar, senior scientist of the GBPIHED, while talking to The Pioneer.“We completed the study of the glaciers recently. As per our study reports, there is about 10 percent retreat in the glaciers in the Dhauli and Gori valleys in Pithoragarh,” maintained Kumar.
However, changes in the behaviour of glaciers in terms of retreat cannot be described a healthy sign for good health of the glaciers as they play a significant role in maintaining environment. More importantly, the glaciers are prone to disaster like flash flood, particularly during the monsoon season.Mention worthy, after the devastating flash flood in the upper Himalayan zones that wrecked havoc in many parts of Uttarahand, including Pithoragarh in 2013, the environmental experts have also shifted their focus on behavior of the glaciers.
So the main focus of this project is also on studying the pattern of these glaciers in terms of advance and retreat using satellite data and field studies and its impact on river flow.Other objectives of this study are measurement of mass balance and velocity of glaciers.Notably, the glaciers play a significant role in maintaining ecological system. But any adverse impact on the health of glaciers due to excessive human interventions leads to deterioration in the environment.The Himalayan glaciers contribute fresh water to the major river systems of the north India during critical summer months and make these rivers perennial.
But, as the experts maintain, glaciers are highly sensitive to change in the climate. Change in the mountain glaciers in the form of advance and retreat is considered a reliable indicator of climate change. The glacier valleys are highly fragile and prone to disasters like flash flood. So to strike a balance between development an environment conservation is need of the hours as the environmentalist maintained.