Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has taken steps towards scientific surveys to reduce the potential disaster risk posed by glacial lakes in the state. An expert team departed on Tuesday to conduct scientific surveys of Saraswati Tal, located at an altitude of around 5,700 metres in Chamoli district, and Kedartal, situated at approximately 4,750 metres in Uttarkashi district. Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority and Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, flagged off the team.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik extended their best wishes to the experts participating in the mission. During the survey, the depth and water levels of both lakes, changes in their size, the surrounding terrain and potentially vulnerable areas will be studied. The possible impact on downstream areas in the event of a rise in water levels or sudden outflow of water from the lakes will also be assessed.
Vinod Kumar Suman said that 13 glacial lakes in the state have been identified as being in the vulnerable category. Surveys of four of these lakes have already been completed, while scientific studies of the other vulnerable lakes are being conducted in phases. As part of this process, depth and structural surveys of Saraswati Tal and Kedartal are being undertaken.
He said the government’s objective is not merely to study the lakes but also to strengthen early warning systems and relief and rescue arrangements to deal with potential hazards in time. Information obtained from the surveys will help improve the identification of potentially affected areas, safe evacuation routes, communication systems and local warning mechanisms. Preparations are also underway to use modern sensors and water-level measuring equipment for monitoring the lakes.
Experts from Several Institutions Involved
Experts from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Puravijnan Sansthan, Lucknow, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering are participating in the mission.
The survey, being conducted amid extreme altitude and challenging geographical conditions, is considered important for understanding potential risks associated with glacial lakes. The information obtained will be useful in further strengthening lake monitoring, warning systems and disaster management preparedness in the future.
