Govt wakes up after series of Glof; plans warning systems
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (Glof) warning sensor systems in Sikkim, the Centre is set to review the existing Glof scenario and formulate a full-fledged early warning system (EWS) for Himalayan states prone to such hazards.
ET gathers that a high-level meeting has been called this week in New Delhi to look at developing a robust and advanced EWS for all the high-risk states and areas.
The meeting will look at four key aspects. First, identification of all Glof-prone lakes in Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.
Second, installation of advanced EWS at all the identified Glof-prone lakes. Third, examining and implementing structural and non-structural changes that may be required in these areas, at site and downstream to prevent/minimise damage and loss of lives.
Fourth, generating adequate community awareness on Glof-like disasters to ensure timely evacuation and damage control, ET gathers.
It is learnt that the October 18 meeting will have on board secretaries from several key ministries including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Expenditure, Department of Science & Technology, Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change besides the National Disaster Management Authority, Central Water Commission, Geological Survey of India, National Institute of Hydrology and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, among others.
The idea is to move forward on the Glof EWS plan at the earliest.
ET reported last week how warning sensors installed at Sikkim lakes in 2013, 2016 and even as recently as September 2023 failed to function for some reason and were not re-deployed/revived in time. The presence of EWS is likely to have given
