32-Member Team to Study 6 High Risk Glacial Lakes Reaches Lachung

The team will study the Tenchungkha, Khangchung Chho, Lachen-Khangtse, Lachung-Khangtse, La Tsho and Shako Chho lakes

The 32-member team that left from Zero Point, Gangtok today morning to study 6 high risk glacial lakes in the upper reaches of North Sikkim, arrived at Lachung in this evening.

Upon their arrival, the team was welcomed by the Pipons (Panchayat leaders) Pema Wangdi Lachungpa and Dorjee Chewang Lachungpa along with one of the Chultimpas, the executive head of the monastery and the public. They assured help, support and assistance to the team and wished them the best for the expedition, stating that this would lead to the fruitful and needed results.

The team of experts will conduct a detailed susceptibility assessment of glacial lakes – Tenchungkha, Khangchung Chho, Lachen-Khangtse, Lachung-Khangtse, La Tsho and Shako Chho.

This mission is not covering the three high-risk lakes, namely Guru-dongmar A, B, and C, as these lakes are considered to be sacred with sentimental value for the locals.

The mission that includes experts from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the Geological Survey of India, was flagged off by Sikkim Social Welfare Minister Samdup Lepcha today morning.

Meanwhile, the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee has said that the GLOF expedition team should include a member from the Monk Body under the Ecclesiastical department to guide them.

The Committee added that the lakes are sacred and protected by the “Places of Worship Act” passed by the Parliament and notified by the Sikkim Government. The Committee also requested the Ecclesiastical department to intervene in the matter.

According to a Sikkim Government Notification, a No Objection Certificate from the Ecclesiastical Department is mandatory to enter the vicinity of places of worship. Reportedly, the GLOF expedition team did not mention that they had the consent from the ecclesiastical department.

The study mission comes in the backdrop of the massive destruction and devastation caused by the glacial lake outburst in the South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim last year.

NDMA is bearing 90 per cent of the cost of the mission, which is Rs one crore and the remaining 10 per cent is being borne by Sikkim government

The team of experts includes members from the Science and Technology Department, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mines and Geology Department, Water Resources Department, Forest and Environment Department, Information and Public Relations Department along with two central government agencies – Geological Survey of India, Central Water Commission, two officials of the National Disaster Management Authority and the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, Sikkim University and members of the Lachen Dzumsa (local panchayat).

The NDMA has earlier this month sent two teams to study the risk of glacial lake outburst floods in six glacial lakes in Arunachal Pradesh. The teams will cover three lakes each in Tawang and Dibang Valley. The six lakes are among the 27 identified as “high-risk” by the NDMA across five districts in the state.

Read the full story here: Sikkim: 32-Member Expert Team Leaves to Study 6 High-Risk Glacial Lakes

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