High Court seeks Early Warning Systems for high-risk glacial lakes in Sikkim

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK,: The High Court of Sikkim has called for urgent measures to strengthen the State’s preparedness against Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), urging the State and Central governments to immediately move towards installing early warning systems to avert a disaster similar to the one that struck the State in October 2023.

Sikkim has 40 high-risk glacial lakes as listed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).  The Himalayan State along with Teesta River downstream areas of North Bengal suffered extensive damage during the 2023 GLOF.

During the hearing on thesuo motu PIL on climatic justice in Sikkim on November 5, the division bench of Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan emphasised the need for proactive measures to address the threat posed by these glacial lakes and prevent a recurrence of the October 2023 disaster.

The court noted that States like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand along with neighbouring nation of Bhutan have already installed early warning systems for mitigating GLOF disaster risk, and sought similar measures for Sikkim.

“We persuade the State Government as well as the Central Government to immediately take steps towards procuring and installing such early warning systems to prevent a recurrence of a calamity like the one that struck Sikkim in October, 2023. The State Government may respond to action taken towards the acquisition of such systems by the next posting,” said the division bench.

During the hearing, Amicus Curiae Sudhir Mishra suggested that a State Nodal Officer for protection of glacial lakes should be appointed within the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) to oversee disaster preparedness for the 40 high-risk glacial lakes of Sikkim.

It was also suggested that four additional Nodal Officers be appointed under the overall supervision of the Nodal Officer, each to be individually in-charge of the ten of the 40 glacial lakes of critical importance. The Nodal Officer should be the single point of contact for early warning measures, disaster preparedness, review of each glacier’s movements, the population affected and gathering of critical data from other Departments, Ministries and the Administration.

It was further suggested that the Nodal Officer should be an officer of sufficient senior rank, preferably drawn from the Indian Administrative Service/Indian Forest Service/Indian Police Service having rich prior experience in disaster management and flood control initiatives, with excellent leadership and quick-thinking approach. The Nodal Officer would be required to multi-task and address the concerns and the comprehensive threat of GLOFs in the State of Sikkim, it was submitted.

Agreeing with the suggestion, the High Court of Sikkim observed that the State should be given an opportunity to consider the proposal and take proactive steps, if not already taken, to address the risks posed by the high-risk glacial lakes at the earliest.

The court also took note of the existing institutional arrangements, including a High-Level Steering Committee, a Multi-Disciplinary Task Force and the Sikkim Commission on Glacial Hazards constituted by the State government. The court asked the State government to apprise it of the steps taken by these bodies.

The PIL will be heard next on November 18.

The suo moto PIL was initiated by the High Court of Sikkim in September this year to examine whether the State is adequately prepared to anticipate, mitigate and respond to climate-related disasters including GLOF.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has identified 189 high-vulnerability glacial lakes in the Indian Himalayas, including 40 high-hazard glacial lakes in Sikkim. Of these 40 glacial lakes in the State, 16 have been categorised under the highest-risk classification.

During the two and a half years of detailed studies and painstaking field visits till August this year, the Sikkim government identified three glacial lakes in North Sikkim as posing the highest risk of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood.

The State Department of Science & Technology (DST), along with concerned State departments and Central agencies, visited and studied 13 of these 16 highly vulnerable glacial lakes, mostly in North Sikkim.All these sites are located above 17,000 feet and are extremely difficult to access, requiring preparations similar to those for a mountaineering expedition.

Three glacial lake clusters in North Sikkim identified as posing the most potent threatare Shako Chho, the North and South Lhonak lakes, and the Gurudongmar Lake cluster.The State government has accordingly proposed mitigation measures to the Government of India for these three glacial lake clusters.