GSI has also observed that at the present rate, there is no immediate danger to the existence of perennial rivers.
The GSI has also informed that glacial melt is only a small factor in the overall flow of the river and that the other factors are seasonal snow, ground water flow and rainfall in the catchment area. This last factor is much more significant than the glacial melt and hence, at the present rate of recession the melting of the glaciers alone may not cause any abnormal floods in the rivers.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Water Resources, Shri Vincent H. Pala in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Environment
Himalayan glaciers losing 0.3% of their total length ever year
Special Correspondent - 2010-08-26 23:08
New Delhi: Geological Survey of India (GSI) has informed that scientific monitoring of 40 major Himalayan glaciers has shown that most of the glaciers are passing through a phase of persistent recession and at the present rate of recession, on an average the Himalayan glaciers are approximately losing only 0.3% of their total length ever year.