Glacier story_Olivia Butler_s5200981

The Himalayas have a significant impact on the world, providing fresh water to half of the global population. However, the melting of glaciers, like Gangotri, is causing concern for future natural disasters. The Ganges River holds spiritual and healing significance for many, but the region is prone to landslides, flooding, and glacial lake outbursts (glofts). The recent gloft in Sikkim resulted in the destruction of bridges and the Teesta Dam, causing numerous casualties. The Indian government's focus on economic development rather than ensuring the safety of those living downstream is evident. The region is home to numerous hydropower plants, part of India's efforts to transition to renewable energy sources. However, the proximity of these plants to receding glaciers poses a growing issue. Despite ample funds for relief efforts after disasters, little is done to address the root causes. sitting at the foothills of the Himalayas. It is apparent how great of an impact this region has on the rest of the world. Each stream flowing through these mountains meets to create two of the largest rivers on the planet, the Yamuna and the Ganges. Mountains like these are known as the water towers of the world, providing half of the world's population with fresh water. The impacts that occur here will have lasting effects downstream. Gangotri Glacier is the largest glacier in Uttarakhand. Feeding into India's largest river, the Ganges, Gangotri has undergone unprecedented melting over the last 40 to 50 years, causing a raise of alarm for future natural disaster events as the glacier recedes further and further into the Himalayas. Speaking with Gopal Rawat and Benita Perch from the Integrated Mountain Initiative, it becomes clear the vast scale in which these giant water stores are relied on by the entirety of India and what impact it will have if we were to lose them. The Ganges is of significant importance for many that reside within all of India due to its spiritual and healing powers. Many people travel from all over India to experience these waters and the glaciers that they reside from, though the pilgrimage can be deadly due to the nature of the region. In 2013, over 4,000 people died after heavy monsoon rain in the region caused for mass landslides, completely wiping out the town of Kandana. This is not the only tragedy to occur within the foothills of the Himalayas, with flooding and glofts increasing in intensity and regularity over the last few decades, causing a large risk to those that choose to venture to these sacred places. The most recent tragedy occurred in the state of Sikkim, which is located on the eastern side of Nepal, where a glacier lake outburst, often referred to as a gloft, took place. Smriti Basnet, a glaciologist and current deputy director at Future Earth Global Hub in South Asia, describes how these occur. The gloft is like a glacial lake outburst flood. So what is the outburst here is when the wall of this lake bursts with an impact. That's why it's called a glacial lake, and the flood is when it just floods the whole lake downstream. The gloft that occurred in Sikkim came from the south Lonak Lake, in the north of the state. Debris falling into the glacial lake caused a tsunami that broke through the wall, with water rushing into the valley beyond. The strength of the water flow caused the destruction of a number of bridges in its path, along with the Teesta Dam, which was unable to handle the pressure of the flow and broke, killing at least 94 people. 10 plus or 12 military, army people also were washed away. And if at that scale, even the first line people, people with the highest amount of security, protocol, and telephone connection did not get this news on time, then what would have happened to the normal people? This lake was being monitored by scientists in the lead up to the gloft to assess its danger, though little was being done to ensure the safety of those living downstream of the glacier by the Indian government. The disproportionate level of action that takes place in the mountains to ensure the safety of the people that reside there, in comparison to development projects to increase the economy in the region. It is very apparent the priorities of the government. Downstream of Gunggul Tree is one of the largest dams in the world, the Tahiri Dam, producing 6,200 gigawatts of electricity annually. It is amongst at least 74 either hydropower plants in the state of Uttarakhand alone. These hydro plants are part of the Indian government's efforts to reduce their reliance on fossil fuel based energy sources and transition to renewables. As the world's third largest emitter of CO2, India has committed to increasing its share of non-fossil fuel based power capacity from 30% to around 40% by 2030. Though, as seen with both the Sikkim Glof and the Gandanas tragedy, this region's ability to safely host dams and power plants so close to the receding glaciers is an increasing issue and the money that is being invested into the region is telling. Whenever these tragedies or catastrophes do happen, there is no dearth of, it seems, resource. There's enough and more money which comes in the form of relief, but then it just stops at that.