Uttarakhand: Glaciers and glacier lakes etc. will be analysed in the high altitude area above Dharali (Uttarkashi), Chief Secretary gave instructions

Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has directed Director General Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology Prof. Durgesh Pant to immediately analyse the glaciers and glacier lakes etc. in the high altitude area above Dharali (Uttarkashi) and inform about the status quo. He said that the lakes formed due to melting of glaciers and the possible dangers from them should be immediately assessed and informed. Along with this, he has also talked about including the high altitude areas across the state.

The Chief Secretary said that sensitive areas like Dharali and Rishiganga should be taken on priority and analysed and a report should be submitted immediately, so that preparations can be made in advance to prevent loss of life and property due to any such untoward incident in the near future. He said that such high altitude areas across the state, where there is a possibility of formation or expansion of any kind of lake, should be identified. He nominated Uttarakhand Space Application Center (U-SAC) as the nodal agency for continuous analysis of this type. He said that this type of analysis is a continuous process across the state, for which it is essential to strengthen U-SAC.

The Chief Secretary said that Uttarakhand Space Application Center (U-SAC) will be the nodal agency for all kinds of assistance and coordination from the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) and the Institute of Remote Sensing Satellite (IRSS) including the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He said that the work of installing sensors for monitoring lakes situated at high altitudes should be expedited. He also talked about taking assistance from NIH in this regard.

On this occasion, Director General of Police Deepam Seth, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, Nitesh Kumar Jha, Sachin Kurve, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Jugal Kishore Pant and Vinod Kumar Suman were also present through video conferencing along with Commissioner Garhwal Vinay Shankar Pandey.