India Launches Rs 150-Crore Initiative for Glacial Lake Outburst Mitigation

The Indian government has sanctioned a Rs 150-crore programme for mitigating the risk of glacial lake outbursts in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The initiative, led by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), involves various agencies and focuses on technical assessments, monitoring systems, and early warning mechanisms.

The Indian government has granted approval for a Rs 150-crore programme aimed at mitigating the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) in states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has identified 189 high-risk glacial lakes from the nearly 7,500 scattered across the Indian Himalayas for implementing mitigation measures.

Key agencies, such as the Central Water Commission and Geological Survey of India, alongside international partners and state authorities, are collaborating to plan and execute the programme, which will include technical hazard assessments, installation of automated weather and water level monitoring stations, and early warning systems.

(With inputs from agencies.)