Climate change, tourism traffic, leading to snowless mountain peaks, receding glaciers in Darma and Vyans valleys

Climate change, tourism traffic, leading to snowless mountain peaks, receding glaciers in Darma and Vyans valleys

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Aug 24

Effects of weather changes particularly increase in the temperature has been visible in high Himalayan peaks and glaciers as these peaks are witnessing less snowfall in summer and monsoon months unlike  the situation two decades ago.

B.S. Bonal, a retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer and member of state board for wildlife in Uttarakhand has expressed concern over snowless face of Panchachuli glacier and all five peaks of it, in the summer months and said that the changing weather pattern and increased vehicular traffic in  Darma valley has started affecting snowfall patterns of the valley. B.S.Bonal is permanent  resident of Bon village of Darma valley.

“It was a hopeless feeling on watching snowless Panchachuli peaks this August, when I, visited my native village in connection with a religious festival. I, remember, some 25 years ago when we used to  come to valleys, we witnessed frequent avalanches in Panchachuli glacier almost in every hour in day time during the months of July and August, resulting into chilling cold  waves from glacier. But over the years the snow cover of peaks and glacier is the decreasing and the villages near to Panchachuli glacier are not witnessing that cold that used to occur 25 years ago. It is time to initiate measures by the governments to check the glacier affected by weather pattern as the dense snow coverage of Panchachuli, Adi Kailash and OM Parvat are the only source of tourism in these valleys for local youth who also form a strong second line of defence at this border region,” said  the retired IFS officer.

Shalu Datal, a resident of Darma valley and journalist based in Dharchula town has expressed his concern over the speed  of snow melting in Darma and Vyans valley glaciers in last 7 years when vehicular traffic started taking tourists to inner areas of these valleys due to motor roads.”The visible impact of climate change can be checked by efforts of local communities in collaboration with government agencies concerned,” said Shalu Datal.

Yogesh Garbiyal, an ace mountaineer who scaled Everest peak hailing from Vyans valley said that the effects of mass tourism to Darma and Vyans valleys  has started taking its negative shape in both the valleys  as snowy glaciers and peaks  are becoming things of the past.”Our Orgnisation CBTS, is witnessing these symptoms from last 6-7 years. This is a sorry situation, we will have to save our climate, vegetation and herbs  for future generations of Himalayan region,” said Yogesh Garbiyal.