gs1
150 Words10 Marks
Q.How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India?
UPSC Mains 2020•Geography
Model Answer
View this Question In PYQ RealmIntroduction
The Himalayas, often called the "Third Pole," host massive glaciers that feed India's major perennial river systems, including the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus. Accelerated glacial melting due to rising global temperatures poses severe risks to India's water security.
Body
Drivers of Glacial Melting:
- Anthropogenic atmospheric modifications and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Global warming-induced disruptions in regional weather and precipitation patterns.
- Unplanned urbanization and tourism in fragile mountain ecosystems.
Far-Reaching Impacts on Water Resources:
- Increased Natural Disasters: Initial rapid melting leads to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), river flooding, and dam failures, causing extensive loss of life and infrastructure.
- Long-Term Water Scarcity: Once glaciers shrink significantly, the dry-season flow of perennial rivers will drastically decline, turning fertile basins into water-stressed zones.
- Monsoon Disruptions: Altered thermal dynamics over the Himalayas can disrupt monsoon wind patterns, leading to highly erratic rainfall.
- Groundwater Depletion: Reduced surface water availability forces over-exploitation of groundwater, leading to land subsidence (e.g., Joshimath).
- River Basin Degradation: Increased water velocity during early melt phases accelerates soil erosion, leading to heavy siltation of river beds and reservoirs.
- Marine and Coastal Impact: Increased freshwater discharge alters coastal salinity, threatening marine ecosystems and coral reefs.
Conclusion
Glacial retreat threatens the ecological and economic stability of India. Addressing this requires robust water conservation, river-linking feasibility studies, and sustainable agricultural practices.