Jammu & Kashmir's biggest glacier, which feeds the region's main river, is melting faster than other Himalayas glaciers, threatening the water supply of tens of thousands of people, a new report warned on Monday.
Experts say rising temperatures are rapidly shrinking Himalayan glaciers, underscoring the effects of climate change that has caused temperatures in the mountainous region to rise by about 1.1 degrees Celsius in the past 100 years.
The biggest glacier in Indian Kashmir, the Kolahoi glacier spread over just a little above 11 sq km (4.25 sq mile), has shrunk 2.63 sq km in the past three decades, a new study said.
"Kolahoi glacier is shrinking 0.08 square kilometres a year, which is an alarming speed," said the study, presented at a workshop on "Climate Change, Glacial Retreat and Livelihoods," in Srinagar, Indian Kashmir's summer capital.
The three year-long study was led by glaciologist Shakil Ramsoo, assistant professor in the department of geology at the University of Kashmir.
The Kolahoi glacier is the main source of water for Kashmir's biggest river, the Jhelum, and its many streams and lakes.
According to a United Nations Environment Programme and World Glacier Monitoring Service study, the average melting rate of mountain glaciers has doubled since the turn of the millennium, with record losses seen in 2006 at several sites.
But India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in August there was a need for more scientific studies to conclusively establish the link between climate change and shrinking glaciers.
He said while "a couple of" Himalayan glaciers were receding, some others such as the Siachen glacier were advancing, while others like the Gangotri glacier were receding at a decreasing rate compared with the last two decades.
But Ramsoo said: "Other small Kashmir glaciers are also shrinking and the main reason is that the winter temperature in Kashmir is rising."
Experts say the melting of Kashmir glaciers could have serious fallout as most Kashmiris rely on glaciers for water.
Forest Minister inaugurates International Workshop on Glacial Retreat
The KashmirUniversity vice-chancellor, Prof Riyaz Punjabi on Monday called for a coordinated effort between different governmental and non-governmental agencies to address the issue of climate change in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing delegates at the inaugural function of the 3-day International Workshop on Climate Change, he said, “The need of the hour is to have a coordinated effort to address the issue of climate change at the regional and local levels in Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Workshop titled “Climate Change, Glacial Retreat and Livelihoods” is organised jointly by the University of Kashmir, Government of J&K, and The Energy And Resources Institute (TERI).
“It would be a big contribution if the different agencies like KU, TERI and State Forest Research Institute, Government of J&K are able to pool up the data regarding the status of climate change in the state. There is need to identify factors and remedies for the issues that we confront vis-à-vis climate change and glacial retreat,” Prof Punjabi said, adding that both people and policy makers have to be alive and sensitive to the issue of Climate Change.
Prof Punjabi asserted that there were indicators suggesting climate change in J&K. “For example, we have a lost a season called Sont Kaal (small season before spring). Today youth in the age group of 15 to 25 can’t identify with this season. Besides the change in temperate, variety of vegetables in Kashmir is an indicator of the climate change. Therefore the issue assumes great significance for us,” he said, adding that there was need to address the issue of glacial retreat at the same time as glaciers were a source of water for the water bodies in J&K.
He said it was high time to pay attention to some critical environmental issues like ozone depletion, deforestation, vegetation, cement manufacturing and human influence on environment. “As of now we don’t have much scientific data available on the status of climate change in J&K, but we need to pool this data in a coordinated manner and chart out a future course of action,” Prof Punjabi said while urging the government to pay more attention to the issue.
Prof Punjabi called for a massive sensitization programme about the consequences of climate change. “At any cost, we have to aware our society and policy makers about the consequences of climate change so that they take appropriate steps to arrest it,” he said.
The function was inaugurated by the Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad. “We are shortly going for a declaration on the climate change. However we have to monitor this declaration and follow it up. At the governmental level, whatever needs be done will be done,” he said while calling for empowering the Department of Environment.
The Minister of State for Forests, Shabir Ahmad Khan, said the climate change can be mitigated.
A Senior Fellow at TERI, Prof S I Hasnain said the issue of climate change needs be assessed regionally and addressed locally. “Scientists and experts must develop a regional approach to the issues concerning climate change and tackle them accordingly,” he said.
The Principal Conservator of Forests, Jagdish Kiswan, said the receding glaciers were a matter of concern as most of the water sources emanate from glaciers.
The Commissioner/Secretary (Forests), Shantamannu, presented the welcome address while R D Tiwari, Director, State Forest Research Institute, J&K, presented the vote of thanks. Others who shared the dais included Chief Secretary SS Kapoor; Mr Angurana, Principal/secretary, PHE .
*Governor, N.N Vohra in a significant decision had ordered cancellation of attachment of all the Government employees, both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted.
*"All attached employees will be relieved with immediate effect to report to their original place of posting from where they were withdrawn before such attachment", the order said.
*Government had also directed the Treasury Officers (TOs) not to entertain salary bills of those employees who have been attached or transferred, along with the post, unless the report of their original place of posting certificate is not recorded by the Drawing and Disbursing Officers on the monthly salary bill.
By Ajmer Alam Wani
JAMMU, OCT 11: For majority, it will be a big surprise to know that in Jammu and KashmirState, a Sarpanch is more powerful to State Governor and the Chief Minister (CM). Though many may read this as a joke, but in practical, it has been established that from time to time the orders passed by the state Governor and the Chief Minister (CM) were thrown to winds even at the lowest level of administration.
It seems that the administration at the lower rung in Jammu and Kashmir state has no respect or the fear of the highest authorities of the state the Governor and Chief Minister (CM) as the orders of these two top authorities are not given importance, than what to talk about their implementation andobeying. Sources revealed that under the influence of a Sarpanch in Bhaderwah Assembly segment, three teachers who happen to be the relatives of a Sarpanch are working on choice attachments. Despites bans on attachments, sources revealed that the Sarpanch has managed the choice attachments of his son in law, son of sister and daughter in law.
According to sources, a teacher namely Ghulam Farooq whose original place of posting is Middle School Jangalwar, is enjoying choice attachment for the last seven years at Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Thathri. The said teacher is son in law of a Sarpanch. Flouting all the set guideline, even a Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT), teacher namely Naseer Ahmed whose original place of posting is Middle School Sunarthawa is enjoying choice attachment at Girls School Lopa Thathri. The said ReT teacher is son of Sarpanch’s sister.
The Sapranch even managed the choice attachment of his daughter in law Fehmida Parveen who is also a ReT teacher at MS Bachara but has been attached to CEO office Doda.
There are other many choice attachments like a teacher namely Abdul Quyoom of Middle School Shamdalian which falls in Education Zone Batyas has been on choice attachment for the last 9 years at Boys High School Thathri while one Rakesh Singh teacher of Middle School Dadian has been on choice attachment at Boys School Thathri since his appointment in 2002. Sources said that many more teachers are enjoying choice attachments at their favorite places.
Though the Jammu and Kashmir Government has been beating the drums by raising hollow slogans that the bold decision have been taken by ordering detachment of all the attached teachers to restore accountability and revive education activity throughout the state but the influential people have managed to steal the show and the top heads of the state have been confined to just pass the orders and issue directions. The practical part remains with the officers and they act as per their lobbies, influence, convince and interests.
Relevant to mention here that earlier the former Chief Minister (CM) Ghulam Nabi Azad had ordered for cancellation of all attachments and later non other than the present Governor of the state, N.N Vohra in a significant decision, had ordered cancellation of attachment of all the Government employees, both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted. "All attached employees will be relieved with immediate effect to report to their original place of posting from where they were withdrawn before such attachment", the Government order issued under Governor’s rule said.
Worthwhile to mention here that a large chunk of Government employees, mostly in Health and Medical Education and Education Departments, had been attached under political influence during past sometime. The employees posted in rural and far off areas use their influence and managed to get themselves attached in urban areas.
Interestingly, the Government had also directed the Treasury Officers (TOs) not to entertain salary bills of those employees who have been attached or transferred, along with the post, unless the report of their original place of posting certificate is not recorded by the Drawing and Disbursing Officers on the monthly salary bill, but what has been happening, how they manage it, if not a mystery is a big scandal.
Though all Heads of the Departments were asked to submit a compliance report to the Administrative Department concerned regarding such detachments within a period of two weeks from the date of issue of the Order, with a copy to the Chief Secretary but many heads changed but the maximum attachments remain intact.
