GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1443
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03-12-2007

PLANNING FOR SETTING UP OF SPECIALIZED RESEARCH CENTRE

1443. SHRIMATI. SHOBHANA BHARTIA:
SHRI VIJAY J. DARDA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ministry is planning to set up a specialized research centre at the national level for carrying out holistic studies on Himalayan glaciology and monitoring all the important glaciers to deal with snow melting;
(b) by when the decision for setting up the centre would be considered;
(c) whether the Geological Survey of India has been conducting studies on the recession of the Gangotri glacier since 1935 and Ganga basin, glacier melts have been reported and scientists found that the rate of shrinking of 30.2 km-long Gangotri glacier during the last three decades is more than the earlier decades; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (d): Yes, Sir. The Department of Science and Technology has been assigned the responsibility of establishing a National Institute for Research and Development on Himalayan Glaciers. The Department of Science and Technology has initiated the consultative process for preparing a detailed Project Report for establishing an Institute for "Snow, Ice and Glaciers Studies". The Geological Survey of India has been carrying out studies on the recession of Gangotri Glacier since 1935. Between 1935 and 1996 the average recession rate of Gangotri Glacier was 18.80 m/year but during 1976 - 96 an increased recession rate of 28.25 had been observed. Further, studies carried out by Jawaharlal Nehru University and G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development had recorded the recession rates of Gangotri Glacier as 17.15m/year between 1971 and 2004 and 12.10 m during 2004-05.