Glaciers are fast retreating from the Himalayan ranges, and experts believe this could lead to severe water crisis in the region in coming decades…
The Himalayan mountains, which provides water to two billion people across the region is fast disappearing. According to a recent study, these mountain ranges – right from the Himalayas to the Hindu Kush are retreating at an alarming rate, and if the rate continues, villages and towns in the region will face a severe water crisis in coming decades.
Known as Asia’s water tower, a glacial landscape with vast quantities of freshwater trapped within its ice, feed the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra river systems, providing water for communities, agriculture, industry and hydropower stretching from India to China and beyond.
Climate Change
But climate change and pollution are threatening this fine balance. It is said that the Himalayan glaciers are disappearing twice as fast as they were 20 years ago. The study predicts this will cause river levels to rise until 2050, matched by increased flooding in the short term, but in the long term, the picture is one of wide-spread water scarcity; the recent instance being the Uttarakhand floods that devastated many lives and property.
The study looks at the interconnectivity between this and the groundwater and surface water in the area. There are 5 million springs in the Himalayas and they are showing a decline not only because of overuse by an increasing population, but also because of retreating Glaciers and depleting ground water levels. This is alarming because the populations that live in the upper and middle Himalayas, in villages and even towns, are dependent on spring water. Its Impact Long term, water insecurity is of particular significance to the region’s agriculture. About 129 million farmers partly irrigate their lands with Himalayan meltwater.
The London School of Economics reports, “Meltwater alone provides enough water to grow food crops to sustain a balanced diet for 38 million people.” Also, the Himalayan Karakoram river basins have installed hydropower capacity of 26,432 MW. Glacial loss is a threat to reliable renewable energy production. Not to mention the ever-exploding population which is expected rise by 68% by 2050 of which 90% will be in low-income countries of Asia and Africa. This would mean increased demand for resources including water and energy that will coincide with greater scarcity. Food, energy and drinking water shortages will be felt in megacities such as Delhi, Lahore and Kolkata, whilst at the same time worsening the rural situation.
Creating water security
The study states that unless a coherent nationwide policy is developed, the threat looms large in the coming years. In fact a 2020 Water Policy report recommends building a detailed picture of the scope and implications of Himalayan water scarcity. This includes mapping water sources and anticipating changing demand, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas.
There’s opportunity to expand on initiatives already being trialled in areas of urban water scarcity, such as harvesting rainwater. Modified consumption applies to industry as well, like for instance, drip irrigation in agriculture. Groundwater policies are essential to manage abstraction rates.
Metering and variable pricing are the other side of this equation, as the relatively low cost of water is often a barrier to efficient consumption. The Atlantic Council says technology will unlock greater water security. There are possibilities in desalination, plus biotech advances, including seeds that thrive under water scarcity.
Conclusion
While some experts say, climate change has surpassed the Himalayan glaciers and, with them, the water cycle, scientists are confident enough that addressing water security now should be a priority. Having passed the tipping point, our responsibility in this region is to work towards conserving water and be accountable for each drop!
-Manoj Mahanta
Team ScienceNow
