India and China share glacier fear

India and China are in talks to discuss the melting Himalayan glaciers which are crucial to the water supplies of both countries, an Indian minister said today.

The Himalayan glaciers are facing threats from debris and rubbish left by tourists and other factors including global warming. As part of a scientific investigation into the health of the glaciers, research bodies from India and China are expected share information.

“We are talking to the Chinese about monitoring the Himalayan glaciers,” environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh said.

He added that he did not want Chinese researchers and scientists “all over India’s glaciers”, but a collaborative research programme instead.

Mr Ramesh said that New Delhi would start talks about water resources with Beijing.

The minister is visiting China this month ahead of talks in Copenhagen on climate change in December.

The Indian government has dismissed research pointing to the retreat of the Himalayan glaciers due to climate change.

The forest minister said the country must concentrate on scientific research to study the Himalayan atmosphere.

“It is a highly emotive issue but one has to be a little careful before we write the epitaph of the Himalayan glacier,” Mr Ramesh told the Financial Times.

The Indian Space Research Organisation and the department of science and technology have been asked to extensively survey glacial conditions across the eastern and western Himalayas.

Seven of the world’s greatest rivers, which supply water to about 40% of the world’s population, are fed by the glaciers.

Water supply is expected to become a priority for India and China as they try to sustain huge populations dependent on farming.