Gangtok, July 01: Alarmed over reported shrinkage
of the 26 km Zemu glacier in the eastern Himalayas, which is
the main source of water for Teesta river, due to global
warming, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has sought
an "authentic report" on the issue.
At a meeting with Forest department officials, Chamling
sought an 'authentic report' about the glacier receding , an
official release said today.
In an interim report presented to the state government
earlier this year, it was revealed that the glacier has shrunk
by three to six meters.
The report said that in some cases the recession
of pristine glaciers was caused by under-construction power
projects which raised the temperature affecting the ecology
and environment of the state.
A status report on all glaciers was prepared by a
study team comprising eminent experts at the initiative of the
Science and Technology department last year.
Sikkim has the largest number of 84 glaciers, with
Zemu being the biggest.
Forest and Wildlife Secretary S T Lachungpa said he
would soon form a committee on climate change to study the
impact of global warming on glaciers in the Himalayan state
before compiling a report.
It would take a couple of months to study the physical
status of the Zemu glacier, he said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, July 02, 2009, 00:00