3.8 pc reduction in snow cover in state

SHIMLA: One may simply term it as an adverse impact of climatic change, but the consequences of reduction in the snow cover in Himachal by almost 3.8 per cent this winter could have far reaching consequences as was evident during the recent water scarcity that hit the state capital.

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 5

One may simply term it as an adverse impact of climatic change, but the consequences of reduction in the snow cover in Himachal by almost 3.8 per cent this winter could have far reaching consequences as was evident during the recent water scarcity that hit the state capital.

The findings of a study undertaken by State Centre on Climatic Change in the Council for Science, Technology and Environment has rung alarm bells for the state government, which has been grappling with the worst-ever water crisis hitting the state in the last fortnight.

The study indicates that the area under snow cover was the lowest this winter since 2010. The fact that a good snowfall will ensure adequate water supply due to glacial melting cannot be overlooked. A good snowfall obviously augurs well

for the hydro-power sector as well.

As per the study undertaken in the Ravi, the Beas, the Chenab and Sutlej basins, reduction in snow cover has been maximum in the Ravi and Beas basins. “Although there has been overall reduction in snow cover in case of Ravi it is 21 per cent while in Beas it was eight per cent,” revealed Kunal Satyarthi, Member Secretary, Council for

Science, Technology and Environment.

In case of Sutlej and Chenab basins, the reduction in snow cover is less at 0.4 and 0.7 per cent, respectively. Another significant observation seen is that there is more area under snow in March than the peak winter months of December to February reflecting a change in the snowfall pattern.

The southern basins of Ravi and Beas show similar results of having less area under seasonal snow cover in October, January, February and March and the positive trend in November and December like that of the northern basins and the trends are much prominent than the Chenab and Sutlej basins.

The basins which are on the north of the Pir Panjal Range have slightly better results than the basins which are on the southern side. This is mainly due to the fact that the Pir Panjal Range has orographic control and by virtue of its location, the western disturbances arising out of the westerlies originating mainly from the Mediterranean Sea and then entering India through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, and the northern basins being close receive more winter accumulations than the basins on the southern side of the Pir Panjal Range.

About one third of the total geographical area of the state remains under thick snow cover during the winter season. Most of the major rivers like Chenab, Beas, Parvati, Baspa, Spiti, Ravi, Sutlej and their perennial tributaries originating from the Himalayas depend on the seasonal snow cover for their discharge dependability. Besides this, the snow cover also helps in controlling the accumulation and ablations patterns of the glaciated regions in the state.

Findings of study had rung alarm bells