Risk From Glacial Lake Floods

General Studies Paper -1

Context: The Uttarakhand government has constituted two teams of experts to evaluate the risk posed by five potentially hazardous glacial lakes in the region.

• These lakes are prone to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).

What are GLOFs?

• GLOFs are disaster events caused by the abrupt discharge of water from glacial lakes — large bodies of water that sit in front of, on top of, or beneath a melting glacier.
• As a glacier withdraws, it leaves behind a depression that gets filled with meltwater, thereby forming a lake.
  • The more the glacier recedes, the bigger and more dangerous the lake becomes.

Reasons 

• GLOFs can be triggered by various reasons, including
  • Glacial calving, where sizable ice chunks detach from the glacier into the lake,
  • Inducing sudden water displacement
  • Incidents such as avalanches or landslides can also impact the stability of the boundary around a glacial lake, leading to its failure, and the rapid discharge of water.
• In recent years, there has been a rise in GLOF events in the Himalayan region as soaring global temperatures have increased glacier melting.
  • Rising surface temperatures across the globe, including India, have increased the risk of GLOFs
• Rapid infrastructure development in vulnerable areas has also contributed to the spike in such incidents.

Impacts 

• GLOFs can unleash large volumes of water, sediment, and debris downstream with formidable force and velocity.
• The floodwaters can submerge valleys, obliterate infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings, and result in significant loss of life and livelihoods.
• It has resulted in several disasters in the Himalayan states in recent years.

Geographical Distribution: 

• Commonly associated with glacial regions, especially in mountainous areas with significant glacial activity. Examples include the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps.
  • Since 1980, in the Himalayan region, particularly in southeastern Tibet and the China-Nepal border area, GLOFs have become more frequent
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which operates under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has identified 188 glacial lakes in the Himalayan states that can potentially be breached because of heavy rainfall.
  • Thirteen of them are in Uttarakhand.

Suggestions 

• There is a need to know more about the dynamics of glaciers and glacial lakes
• Therefore, it is important to learn as much as possible about past events and the dynamics behind them and to assess the overall GLOF risk in the region for better planning and implementation of disaster risk reduction measures and climate change adaptation in the region.
• There is a need to Utilise satellite imagery and remote sensing technology to monitor changes in glacial lakes and identify potential threats.
• Develop and communicate emergency preparedness plans to communities at risk.

About the BIMSTEC Charter

• It was signed and adopted during the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2022.
• It provides a legal and institutional framework for BIMSTEC, aiming to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development through the identification and implementation of specific cooperation projects in the agreed areas of cooperation and other areas that may be agreed upon by the Member States.
• It reaffirms the commitment to the principles and purposes of BIMSTEC as enshrined in the Bangkok Declaration of 1997.

Significance of the BIMSTEC Charter

• The adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter formalises the grouping into an organisation made up of member states that are littoral to, and dependent upon, the Bay of Bengal.
• The Charter allows BIMSTEC to engage in external relations with non-member States, developmental partners, and regional as well as the UN and International Organisations.
• It stresses the need for a fair, just, equitable, and transparent international order and reaffirms faith in multilateralism with the United Nations at the centre and the rule-based international trading system.

BIMSTEC and India

• Alignment with Foreign Policy:BIMSTEC aligns with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies.
  • It provides a natural platform for India to foster greater regional cooperation in South and Southeast Asia.
• Economic Integration: BIMSTEC is an important element in India’s strategy for economic cooperation with South East Asian countries.
  • The BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework Agreement, signed in 2004, aims to increase trade and economic integration among member countries.
• Security Cooperation: India plays a significant role in BIMSTEC’s security cooperation. Under the new changes adopted in the summit, India has become the ‘security pillar’ of BIMSTEC.
  • It includes cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism and transnational crime.
• Connectivity and Infrastructure Development: The BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity seeks to connect several major transport projects in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand and establish a shipping network across the Bay of Bengal.
  • It aims to benefit the littoral states as well as the Bay of Bengal dependent states like Nepal and Bhutan.

Challenges Associated with BIMSTEC for India

• Uneven Progress:Despite being in existence for over 25 years, the pace of cooperation within BIMSTEC has been somewhat uneven.
  • The progress across different sectors has been inconsistent, which has affected the overall effectiveness of the organisation.
• Regional Conflicts among member states:It can hamper the smooth functioning of BIMSTEC.
  • For instance, the Rohingya refugee crisis created tensions between Myanmar and Bangladesh, which affected the working of BIMSTEC.
• Legal and Institutional Challenges: Finalising legal instruments for various initiatives, such as coastal shipping and road transport, can be time-consuming and complex.
  • These can slow down the progress towards stronger trade relations among the member countries.
• Security Concerns:Terrorism remains a significant threat to peace and stability in the region.
  • While BIMSTEC has been working towards strengthening cooperation against terrorism, it continues to be a major challenge.

Conclusion

• The BIMSTEC Charter represents a significant step forward in regional cooperation. It provides a robust framework for the organisation to work towards a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Bay of Bengal Region.

As BIMSTEC enters a new era with the adoption of its Charter, it is poised to play a crucial role in fostering regional cooperation and integration.