Govt to conduct geophysical investigation

Kathmandu, December 18

Not long after the successful mitigation of the risk of glacial lake outburst floods in Imja lake, Solukhumbu, the government is all set to conduct geophysical investigation of major glacial lakes of the country.

It has been reported that the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has already begun work on financial support, which is essential to commence the investigation.

According to DHM, apart from previous I/NGOs’ research, the government agency itself is now trying to find the geophysical risk status of major glacial lakes in the country.

“We have made all preparations to begin the geophysical investigation of glacial lakes and now only await approval of funding.” Rishi Ram Sharma, director general at the department told The Himalayan Times, “It may take some time, but as a team we are focused on finding evidence of climatic risks through investigation.”

Sharma also stressed how risk assessment of geophysical investigation will create core and unrevealed outputs and that will be the strongest findings.

Earlier, Nepal had succeeded in draining out the water of Imja lake of Solukhumbu by 3.5 metres to save downstream villages from the Glacial Lake Outburst floods in October this year. Imja was one of the fastest growing glacial lake in the Himalayan region.

Nepal is ranked the fourth most vulnerable country in the world to the impact of climate change. A total of 3,808 glaciers and 1,466 glacial lakes have been identified in Nepal.

These lakes include 21 potentially dangerous lakes, out of which six, including Tsho Rolpa and Imja are at high risk.

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