Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the immense Himalayan Geo-assets are yet to be completely investigated, which can in numerous ways add to the financial improvement of the Himalayan locale as well as the country in general. He noticed that the vital Himalayan assets are its ice sheets and snowfields which feed billions of individuals through water system, industry, hydropower production.
Talking subsequent to introducing Research Scholars’ and Transit Hostel at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), the Union Minister said that the hostel was a truly necessary yearning for the analysts, especially the female specialists and it will certainly help developing an agreeable workplace.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that around 60 doctoral and 12 post-doctoral students are seeking research in various parts of Himalaya in view of the Geoscientific examination at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) and the organization is completely furnished with the best in class logical offices and information handling centres that are creating quality information not exclusively to satisfy the need of in-house specialists but also for the scientists from different institutions and colleges.
However, laid down in 1968, WIHG didn’t have a Research Scholars’ and Transit Hostel, which has now been furnished with the 40-room Hostel. The Minister said that this up gradation will now empower the students to undertake their research for expanded hours as well as use the in-house labs to the fullest potential.
The Union Science and Technology Minister noted that WIHG has been a committed to exploration establishment on Himalayan Geosciences for understanding the geodynamic development of the mighty Himalaya; logical explanation of Geo-perils brought about by the seismic tremors, avalanches, landslides, flash floods, and so on so as to give an assessment, management and mitigation; and investigation of Geo-assets, for example, geothermal, minerals, metal bodies, hydrocarbons, springs, riverine systems, and so forth that can be taken advantage of in a logical way for the socioeconomic development. He said that the organization is effectively engaged with concentrating on glacial elements and the climate-tectonic association in the current environmental change situation.
The Minister said that it is vital to comprehend the effect of upstream environmental change to high-height glacial masses, and their results to the downstream waterway framework that are taking care of billions of individuals for water system, drinking water, industrial and personal uses, hydropower projects, and even to vacationers and pilgrimages. Other than giving the effect assessment due to hydropower projects, the organization has likewise been seeking the environmental impact assessments connected with multiple other developmental exercises in the Himalaya as brought about by the street development, ropeway, railroad, tunnel, and so forth.
Dr Jitendra Singh expressed that the corona induced pandemic, which has brought in the greatest medical care crisis, lock down and social distancing have affected the economy harshly, and the Government is frantically searching for scientific innovation and technological advancement that can assist with building versatility and solid rise of economy. The Minister said that the Geosciences can assume a vital part in the development of multiple sectors in the country, for example, the Energy security, Water security, Industrial expansion, Management and alleviation of Geo-hazards, Climate change impacts on the nature and biodiversity, conservation of climate and environment, and so forth.
The Union Minister further added that the specialists in the Himalayan territory play an unexpected part in comparison to the analysts engaged with issues connected with the fields. He noted that there are around 1,000 glaciers and an equivalent number of glacial lakes located in the Uttarakhand Himalayan region. Satellite information is for the most part utilized for a quick observation to determine a firsthand information on the size and number of ice sheets or glacial lakes over an extremely large and difficult to reach the region, however the land-based information, wherever possible, are fundamental for ground-truth approval and accurate modelling.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that WIHG has been observing multiple ice sheets in Uttarakhand, in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Sikkim, and has developed a method for long haul checking of glacial masses and lakes continuously by laying out a network of meteorological, hydrological, seismological stations, online transmission of information through VSAT/GSM, programmed investigation/modelling, and the integration of information through AI/ML calculations 24X7, setting up standard operating procedures (SOP).
This will issue alerts to partners, sensitization to local people for responding at the hour of consequences for viable execution of an early warning system framework is the need of the hours. Dr Singh said that the force and recurrence of avalanches have been expanded as of late because of excessive precipitation, which have been felt by both the Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Himalaya.
He added that to meet the requirements, the WIHG has prepared the landslides susceptibility maps on a regional scale for the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and on local level for the Nainital and Mussoorie towns, and Bhagirathi, Goriganga and Kali rivers valley, which can be used for the city developers, planners, local administrators to avoid the consequences.
The Union Minister said that we really need to comprehend the surging impact from the tremors to avalanches, to flash floods and the Bhagirathi basin is an exemplary model for such peculiarity, because of intermittent avalanche/mass movement activities, closeness to the structurally dynamic and quake inclined MCT zone. Further studies on multi-dangers and cascading cycles, hazard assessment, debris flow recreation and mass movement demonstrating are to be reinforced.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Himalayan Geo-resources are immense, which can add to the socio-economical development of the locale in numerous ways. He noticed that the fundamental assets are the ice sheets and snowfields, which feed billions of individuals for water system, drinking water, modern and homegrown utilizations, hydropower production, and even for travellers and pilgrimages.
He said that the WIHG has plotted 40 hot springs each in the Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Himalayan region, and is trying to produce 5 Mega Watts of electricity at the starting stage of a binary power plant at Tapovan. If the project is found to be successful, it will be expanded to all geothermal fields for space heating and conversion into electrical energy without any carbon footprint.
Further, Dr Jitendra Singh said that it can possibly create jobs for migrants, draw in sightseers, establish small scale organizations like creating the heated water pool, and concentrate therapeutic ingredients from the spring water. The Minister brought up that the Spring-water restoration and stream water recovery can add to the human settlement and agro-economy of our country. Use of accessible and plentiful mineral assets in a logical way can act as another domain for the socio-economic developments. He said that we can think of ways to convert hazardous residues into usable items.
