Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 10 Oct: Experts at Graphic Era shared insights on climate change in the Himalayan region, mountain ecology, water management, and sustainable development, here, today.
A workshop on “Mountains at risk: Addressing climate change in securing water resources in The hills of Uttarakhand” was organised at Graphic Era Deemed University.
The Chief Guest, Dean, Finance and Planning at IIT Roorkee, Dr Deepak Khare, said that the first and most crucial step towards mountain conservation is a realistic assessment of the mountains — understanding their current condition, vulnerabilities, and potential threats. Emphasising sustainable development, he added that considering the impact of climate change and the limited water resources in hilly regions, adopting smart and sustainable measures has become the need of the hour.
Vice Chancellor of Graphic Era Deemed University, Dr Narpinder Singh said that establishing Automatic Weather Stations in mountainous areas is the need of the times. These stations will provide accurate data on rainfall, temperature, and climate variations, thereby strengthening scientific research and disaster management.
Scientist at the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, Dr Shakti Suryavanshi, said that the Himalayan region is changing rapidly due to climate change, directly affecting mountain ecosystems, water sources, and human life. Through a presentation, Dr Shakti highlighted the transformations that have occurred in the Himalayas over the last 100 years, explaining how rising temperatures and melting glaciers have increased the risk of natural disasters.
Professor, Management, Dr MP Singh, also addressed the workshop.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Department of Civil Engineering, Graphic Era Deemed University, and the Indian Water Resources Society Student Chapter.
Among those present were Vice Chancellor of SSJ University, Almora, Dr Satpal Singh Bisht, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Dr Keerat Kumar Gupta, Dr Ajay Gairola, Dr Kishan Singh Rawat, and Dr Deepshikha Shukla, along with other faculty members and students. The programme was conducted by Dr Nitin Mishra.
