New Delhi, August 14: Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events in the Himalayan region, while human related factors are also contributing to rising disaster risks, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said assessments by weather experts, scientific institutions and state authorities indicate that changing climatic conditions have intensified extreme rainfall across the Himalayan region.
The government has constituted a Multi Sectoral Central Team (MSCT) to scientifically assess the growing incidence of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and other extreme weather events in Himachal Pradesh.
The team includes experts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, and other concerned agencies. Inputs from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Central Water Commission (CWC) and Geological Survey of India (GSI) are also being considered.
The MSCT will examine the geographical and ground conditions of the worst affected areas, study data from various agencies and identify the factors behind the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. It will also recommend long term measures to reduce disaster impacts.
The Centre said accelerated snowmelt is another factor contributing to increased runoff in high altitude areas. Rapid melting can release large volumes of water into already fragile mountain terrain, increasing downstream flows and the risk of flooding.
The government also highlighted moraine instability as a factor behind off season slope failures and high runoff. Moraines consist of loose rocks, soil and other debris associated with glaciers, which can become unstable and contribute to landslides and the movement of water and debris.
The Centre’s response comes amid growing concerns over the vulnerability of Himalayan states to climate-related hazards and the impact of construction and other human activities on fragile mountain ecosystems.