Uttarakhand Government is planning to set up an authority with the aim of conserving Himalayan glaciers in the hill State.
The proposed Snow and Glaciers Authority (SGA) is expected to be headed by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and will study the impact of climate change on nearly 1,400 big and small glaciers, top official sources said.
Keeping in view the importance of glaciers, source of many rivers including Ganga, the Chief Minister had recently asked officials to take the initiative for setting up the Authority.
The SGA will exchange statistics and also ideas in close partnership with neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for better management of water resources, ecology and environment conservation, Uttarakhand Science and Technology Secretary Rajiv Chandra told PTI.
The Authority will also share data and research related to glaciers with the countries working in the field of climate change at global level, Mr. Chandra added.
Renowned experts in the field, including those from Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Studies Establishment and Dehradun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, will be part of the proposed body that would coordinate with various government departments, he said.
It will also take help from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
There are several organisations working in this field at private-level globally, but the proposed authority will be a unique government initiative, M. M. Kimothi, Director of Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (U—SAC) said.
