er scarcity likely in the Himalayan catchment if warming continues

In News: Himalayas may feel water scarcity, if drier and warmer scenarios continue in the near future (2031–2050).

Key findings of the study published by IIT Bombay:

• The study analysed the daily precipitation, maximum and minimum daily temperatures, wind speeds, land cover, elevation and soil properties of multiple Himalayan Rivers like Sutlej, Thulo Bheri, Kali Gandaki, Dudh Kosi and Arun.
• Glacier-melt will increase to about 15% to 70% in a warmer environment with its present volume, but then will decrease to 3%–38% substantially when the glacier volumes shrink.
  • However, increased precipitation and moist environment may compensate for such a decrease.
• Snowpacks and glaciers are two important water storage units in the Himalaya.
• Though snow has a lower density and will melt easily in a warming climate, the reduced snowfall will, in turn, reduce the amount of snow-melt.

Reasons behind the bulging problem of Water Scarcity in the Himalayas:

• As per NITI Aayog 2018 report, nearly 50% of Himalayan Springs have dried leading to the drier river system
• Climate Change: Increasing temperature has an adverse impact on monsoon pattern and glacier volumes.
• Unplanned urbanisation:
  • Nearly 50% of the population of the Himalayas will become urban in the next 30 years from present-day 3%.
  • Water’s demand-supply gap may double by 2050.
• Disappearance of traditional water systems viz stone spouts, wells, and local water tanks
• Development Projects and Dams: Char Dham and multiple rail and road projects and Dams have destabilised sedimentary slopes of Himalayas, triggering landslides and avalanches.

Government Initiatives regarding Himalayan Ecosystem:

• National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem:
  • Started the Himalayas Climate Change Portal.
  • An Initiative under the National Action Plan for Climate Change.
• Housing Policy of 2011:
  • Provides guidelines on Construction on Mountainous Regions.
• NMHS – National Mission on Himalayan Studies
  • It is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
  • Nodal and Serving hub is G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE).

Conclusion and Way Ahead:

Water-management and governance are the buzzwords in saving human settlements.

Study of Changing patterns of precipitation systems (Indian Summer Monsoon and Western Disturbances) are essential for pre-preparedness for grim situations.

Following schemes and programs can be scaled up and improvised to save Himalayan Ecosystem.

• Dhara Vikas Yojana of Sikkim
• National Spring Water Management Programme as proposed by NITI Aayog
• Artificial Glaciers as prepared by Glacier man of India, Chewang Norphel in Ladakh

Apart from the above measures, community participation and awareness will be the key to the successful conservation of Himalayan Water system.

Source: TH