Nine vulnerable Sikkim glacial lakes examined

GANGTOK,  (IPR): Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, held a press conference following their successful expedition to South Lhonak and Shako Chu Lake from October 19 to November 5, here at the SSDMA State Control Room today.

The conference was chaired by Namrata Thapa, secretary-cum-relief commissioner, Land Revenue and Disaster Management department, along with Dr. Sandeep Tambe, secretary, Department of Science and Technology; D.G. Shrestha, principal director, DST; Prabhakar Rai, special secretary, Land Revenue and Disaster Management department; Mozart Maxon from Swiss Development Cooperation who was the team leader of the expedition, along with representatives from the Swiss Development Cooperation.

The meeting emphasised the collective efforts of various State government departments including Mines & Geology, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Mangan, and the local authorities, Pipons and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, to study and mitigate Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).

Namrata Thapa mentioned that this expedition is a pioneering initiative for both the State and the country, as they examined nine out of 16 vulnerable lakes identified across Lachen, Lachung, and West Sikkim. The Sikkim Himtal Mission, Surakshit Sikkim, and Samrath Sikkim promote self-reliance and empower local communities through an interdisciplinary team approach, reducing dependency on external agencies, she said.

The Swiss Development Cooperation, along with NDMA, local authorities, and SSDMA, has been training locals in equipment use and maintenance of installed monitoring stations. Following the flash floods of South Lhonak and Shako Chu Lake, mitigation measures are being developed, with standard operating procedures being prepared for future reference.

Dr. Tambe provided insights into the study of Sikkim's 320 glacial lakes, highlighting that while 16 require advanced testing, the remaining 304 are considered normal. Strategies to manage risks from water levels and natural hazards have been discussed, including the stability of dams and the creation of water channels. The four-step testing process implemented by the State government includes basic analysis, comprehensive tests, mitigation treatments which may involve pumping and siphoning and the construction of check dams.

Pierre-Yves Pitteloud expressed the Swiss Development Cooperation's long-standing commitment to Sikkim and their admiration for the State authorities' proactive measures in disaster management.

Additionally, Christoph Haemming mentioned that the glacier lake outburst flood had previously swept away the monitoring station at South Lhonak, prompting the construction of a new monitoring station with advanced pressure probes at Shako Chu Lake.

The press conference concluded with the handover of the keys to the monitoring stations at South Lhonak Lake and Shako Chu Lake to Namrata Thapa, signifying a step forward in the ongoing efforts to ensure long-term sustainability and safety in the region.