Dehradun.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has directed Prof. Durgesh Pant, Director General of the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), to immediately analyze glaciers and glacial lakes located in high-altitude areas above Dharali (Uttarkashi) and report the current status. He emphasized that the potential dangers arising from lakes formed due to glacier melt must be promptly assessed.
The Chief Secretary instructed that high-altitude regions across the state be included in this process. Sensitive areas like Dharali and Rishiganga should be prioritized for analysis, with immediate reports to be submitted so that timely preparedness can be ensured to prevent loss of life and property in the event of any untoward incident.
He further directed that high-altitude areas where lakes are forming or are likely to expand must be identified. The Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) has been designated as the nodal agency for this task. Stressing that this will be a continuous process, he underlined the need to strengthen USAC for effective execution.
Bardhan clarified that the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), the Institute of Remote Sensing Satellite (IRSS), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will extend all possible support and coordination through USAC as the sole nodal agency. He also instructed that the process of installing sensors for monitoring high-altitude lakes be expedited and that assistance be sought from the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) in this regard.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police Deepam Seth, Principal Secretaries R.K. Sudhanshu and R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretaries Shailesh Bagauli, Nitesh Kumar Jha, Sachin Kurve, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Yugal Kishore Pant, and Vinod Kumar Suman. Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey also joined via video conferencing.
