Pak. plan to spray coal dust over glaciers flayed

NEW DELHI, MAY 29. An international body of scientists has shown concern over media reports that Pakistan is going ahead with its plan of melting ice (glaciers) in the Indus basin head by spraying coal dust saying the process will affect ecology and end perennial flow of rivers in the region, including India.

``Pakistan plans to spray coal dust over these glaciers to increase water flow without any scientific study on its possible impact. It would enhance the impact of global warming,'' the member of the International Commission on Snow and Ice (ICSI), which includes top scientists of the world, Syed Iqbal Hasnain, said. Water flow from these glaciers had increased due to global warming, he said adding spraying of coal would hasten the melting of these glaciers.

The major consequence for the two countries by Pakistan's act would be unmanageable water flow followed by dearth of water in the river systems fed from these glaciers, he said.

Some areas might be submerged by artificial flood, he said adding melting would depend on how fast coal dust is sprayed. But Pakistan would be affected more as it has no other source of water and not much monsoon. The process would affect the perenniality of rivers fed by these glaciers, he said. In India, the effect would be more visible in States adjoining Pakistan such as Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

It would also disturb the ecosystem with vanishing of many plant and animal species, he said adding the process would lead to desertification of region.

``We are bothered because the glaciers in question belong to the Himalayas. Pakistan should not go ahead with its plan unless some scientific study is done,'' Mr. Hasnain said.

Against the melting of glaciers in 10 to 15 years, with coal dust spray it would occur as fast as within five years, he said. Besides, ice in these glaciers belong to ice ages of more than 10,000 years ago and once it melts, there would not be any ice in these glaciers as conversion of ice from snow flakes took a number of years, he said. Spraying of coal dust and consequent melting of ice would increase the temperature and prevent ice formation.

Glaciers systems throughout the world, including those at poles, are melting due to global warming. India and Pakistan being in the subtropical region are more vulnerable to this global change in temperature. The level of glaciers all over the world had started decreasing during 1850s but since the last decade this process has enhanced and affected glaciers more in this region because of the subtropical location.

``Our glaciers are already not getting enough ice due to increase in temperature as 80 per cent of them take snow from summer monsoon. At high altitudes, rain falls in form of snow, but with increase in temperature, the quantity of snow decreases in high altitudes,'' he said.

Eighty per cent water in Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra river systems comes from glaciers. While the Ganges feeds India, the Indus river system is shared by both India and Pakistan.

- PTI

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