Srinagar, March 22: The Indian Buildings Congress (J&K Chapter) marked World Water Day by hosting a webinar on the theme “Glacier Preservation,” highlighting the alarming rate at which glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are receding.
The event, chaired by Er Aamir Ali Mir, brought together scientists, engineers, climate activists and policymakers to discuss water conservation and climate change.
The webinar was inaugurated by Prof Shakil Ahmed Romshoo, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), who raised serious concerns over glacier depletion, stating that glaciers in J&K and Ladakh are shrinking by nearly 20 metres in length and 1 metre in depth annually. He attributed this to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, warning that reduced snowfall in the region could lead to severe water crises.
Delivering the Presidential Address, Er Chinmay Debnath, President of IBC, lauded the J&K Chapter for organising the discussion and called for compiling recommendations from the webinar to be shared with the government for policy action.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Founder of the J&K RTI Movement, highlighted how glacier depletion threatens water security and stressed that access to clean drinking water is a basic human right. Prof Sunil Dhar, Dean of the School of Life Sciences at the Central University of Jammu, discussed the geo-environmental impact of glacier fluctuations in the Western Himalayas, particularly in J&K and Himachal Pradesh. Faizan Arif, a young independent weather analyst, elaborated on Western Disturbances and their impact on glacier health in J&K. Er Rabinder Shekhar, a former Superintending Engineer and IBC member, spoke about the importance of preserving glaciers for the sustainable future of J&K. More than 100 participants, including senior engineers, academics, students, and climate experts, attended the session. Notable attendees included Er Bimal Kumar Tickoo, former Development Commissioner (Works) and Secretary Technical PWD, Er Rafiq Ahmed Rafiq, former Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir, and Prof M.A. Shah from NIT Srinagar. The webinar coincided with the first-ever ‘World Day for Glaciers’, aligning with the International Year of Glacier Preservation to raise awareness about glaciers’ critical role in the global climate system and water security. Experts urged urgent policy measures to protect J&K’s fast-receding glaciers, warning that inaction could lead to dire consequences for water availability, agriculture and biodiversity in the region.
