SRINAGAR: In response to the escalating impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers and the country’s long-term water security, the Government of India has intensified its monitoring of glaciers, glacial lakes, and water bodies across the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh announced a series of coordinated, multi-agency initiatives aimed at enhancing surveillance and data-driven management of water resources in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
A Steering Committee on Glacier Monitoring, headed by the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has been established to coordinate cross-ministerial efforts. The Central Water Commission (CWC), acting as the nodal agency, currently monitors 902 glacial lakes and water bodies larger than 10 hectares in the Himalayan river basins using remote sensing technologies, particularly during the summer and post-monsoon months of June to October.
In parallel, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is implementing the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), Risk Mitigation Programme (RMG) in vulnerable states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The programme focuses on early warning systems and monitoring of glacial lakes to prevent disasters linked to sudden lake bursts.
Several scientific institutions are contributing to on-ground glacier monitoring. The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) is currently tracking 13 glaciers across the Central and Western Himalayas and the Karakoram. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment are conducting detailed assessments of glacier recession and mass balance, key indicators of glacier health.
In the Chandra Basin of the Western Himalayas, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is monitoring six glaciers spread across 2,437 square kilometres. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) in Roorkee has established a Centre for Cryosphere and Climate Change Studies to explore the broader hydrological impacts of glacial retreat.
To further bolster water management, the Ministry of Jal Shakti is scaling up data-centric initiatives aimed at enhancing scientific governance of water resources nationwide. Among these is the National Hydrology Project (NHP), a World Bank-supported initiative involving 48 central and state agencies designed to improve access to real-time water data, flood management, and resource planning.
The National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) has been set up as a central data hub, providing stakeholders with real-time and historical water data and supporting integrated spatial planning under the PM Gati Shakti initiative using GIS tools.
At the groundwater level, the National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) programme led by the Central Ground Water Board continues to use scientific techniques to map aquifers and ensure long-term groundwater sustainability. Additionally, the Reservoir Storage Monitoring System developed by the CWC tracks major reservoir water levels and issues weekly updates to aid in flood and drought planning.
These expanded efforts come at a time when the Himalayan region is witnessing alarming glacial retreat and an increase in glacial lake outburst floods—both consequences of rising temperatures and erratic precipitation. India’s integrated and data-driven strategy aims not only to preserve the delicate mountain environment but also to safeguard the future water needs and disaster resilience of a region that supports over a billion people.
