- G B Pant NIHE celebrates Annual Day with ‘Himalayan Popular Lecture Series’
Sunil Kumar
Leh, Sept 10: The G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE), Ladakh Regional Centre, marked its Annual Day celebration with the fifth installment of the “Himalayan Popular Lecture (Ladakh) Series” here today. The event saw a gathering of distinguished guests, scientists, and environmentalists, focusing on the ecological and environmental significance of the Himalayan region.
The program began with the lighting of traditional lamp followed by a felicitation ceremony honoring various dignitaries associated with environmental and governmental initiatives. Dr. Sandipan Mukherjee, Head of the Ladakh Regional Centre (LRC), NIHE, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for the day’s discussions centered around Himalayan ecology.
He informed “Ladakh Regional Centre of NIHE was established in December 2019 to ensure research and development outreach in the Trans-Himalayan region of Indian Himalaya. NIHE-LRC aims to ensure R&D outreach in Trans-Himalayan region of Indian Himalaya to promote alternative livelihoods for climate change vulnerable cold-desert communities, to facilitate conservation of critical/important cold desert habitats and biodiversity, to strengthen and establish approaches for addressing issues of water scarcity and to foster climate smart communities in the trans-Himalayan landscape.
The highlight of the event was the “Himalayan Popular Lecture” delivered by Sonam Lotus, Head, Meteorological Centre Leh. Mr. Lotus is popularly known as Weatherman of Ladakh. His lecture shed light on the unique challenges faced by the Himalayan environment due to climate change and the increasing need for sustainable practices in the region.
He said, “The extreme weather events in Ladakh like flash flood, mudslide etc. are not new, such events happened earlier also but it is a fact that such events are increasing and the damages due to it is being felt and seen recently mainly due to loss of human lives and damage to property and also due to faster communication.”
He further said that scientific evidence showed that weather triggered disasters were likely to increase and we must put in place a robust disaster management system which should be a combination of science and management.
To balance the gap in demand and supply for water in Ladakh, the government should come up with various mitigation and management strategies like introduction of Water Tax beyond a certain limit, creation of more artificial glaciers and introduction of other innovative methods, he concluded.
Following the lecture, a series of addresses were given by key dignitaries, including Dr. Padma Gurmet, Director of the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR); B.M. Sharma, APCCF-cum-CWLW, Ladakh UT; and Stanzin Chosphel, Executive Councillor of the LAHDC Leh, also shared his thoughts on the importance of preserving Ladakh’s delicate biodiversity.
A special moment of the program was the release of the book “Biodiversity of Leh Town”, moderated by Dr. Lalit Giri from the Ladakh Regional Centre, NIHE. The book emphasizes the rich biological diversity of the region and the urgent need for its conservation.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Ajay K. Gupta, LRC, NIHE, followed by the presentation of mementos to the dignitaries and a group photograph to commemorate the occasion. A high tea was held after the formal session, providing an opportunity for participants to engage in discussions on future initiatives.
The annual day celebration and the Himalayan Popular Lecture Series underscored the critical role that scientific discourse plays in addressing the unique environmental challenges of the Himalayas, while also promoting awareness and action in safeguarding the region’s fragile ecosystems.
