Times of India: Shimla: Tuesday, July 14, 2015.
It was the
concern for melting glaciers and blacking of snow that forced National Green Tribunal
(NGT) to order banning of commercial activity at Rohtang Pass. But an RTI query
has revealed that there is no glacier at the top of Rohtang Pass and the
ministry of environment and forests has not issued any notification till date
declaring that it falls under the eco-sensitive zone.
In its July 6
order, NGT had observed that there is complete chaos at Rohtang Pass and its
adjacent glaciers, which, as per the statement made by the experts are reducing
by 19-20 metres per year. They are required to be protected. The snow at
Solang, Rohtang Pass and Bias Kund is being blackened. The black carbon and
other pollutants are found to be higher, NGT added. But in response to a RTI
application filed by Manali hoteliers association president Anup Thakur, Public
Information Officer (PIO) of G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and
Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora in Uttarakhand, Kireet Kumar had informed
that there is no glacier on top of Rohtang Pass.
"However,
the Beas Kund and Hamta glaciers exist in its neighbourhood at an aerial distance
of about 15.3km and 19.92km, respectively," he said. He said that surface
areas were about 3.57 sq km and 3.43 sq km for Beas Kund in the Survey of India
toposheet map of 1969. He said that based on satellite data of Landsat8 (OLI),
2014, it is reduced up to 1.3 sq km and 2.74 sq km, respectively. Thakur had
also sought information on whether Rohtang Pass has been declared eco-sensitive
zone or area, in his reply, Kireet Kumar informed that there was no such
notification available in this office.
He said that
eco-sensitive zones have been identified in India as per environmental
protection Act, 1986. "However, no eco-sensitive zone has been notified in
Himachal Pradesh under EPA, 1986, by the ministry of environment and forests
and climate change," he said. Kireet Kumar further informed that Wildlife
Conservation Strategy, 2002, adopted by Indian board for wildlife, envisages
that the land falling within 10km of boundaries of the national parks and
sanctuaries should be notified as eco-fragile zones under Section 3(v) of the
EPA and rule 5(viii) & (X) of the environment (protection) rule.
Milap Chand
Sharma, professor of geomorphology, centre for the study of regional
development at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi said that concerns about
vehicular pollution impacting glaciers is insignificant. He said that
accumulation area of the glacier is at the height of 5,000 metres while it is
not uncommon to black ablation area which generally is in lower height. He said
that in Lahaul-Spiti, three glaciers namely Lady of Keylong, Goshal and Ralling
have remained unchanged all these years despite increase in vehicular number
and use of fuel wood by local residents.
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