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Nepal Plans to Drain Four Glacial Lakes After Deadly Floods
Why in News?
Nepal will drain four glacial lakes: the GLOF concept GS-III Disaster Management questions keep circling
Nepal will drain four glacial lakes through gated structures to cut flood risk.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2021
What you need to know
2 min read
Nepal plans to drain four glacial lakes after deadly floods.
The draining will use gated structures and will start after a detailed study, and could take up to six years.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- Nepal plans to drain four glacial lakes after deadly floods
- Draining will use gated structures and start only after a detailed study
- The work could take up to six years
- GLOF: sudden release of water from a lake dammed by glacial ice or moraine
- GLOFs occur in other ranges too, such as the Andes and the Alps
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a sudden release of water from a lake dammed by glacial ice or moraine.
- GLOFs are not confined to the Himalayas; they also occur in the Andes, the Alps and other glaciated ranges.
- Controlled drainage through gated structures is one way to lower the water level of a glacial lake and reduce flood risk.
Mains
GS-I Geography and GS-III Disaster Management. Warming-driven growth of glacial lakes raises GLOF risk for Himalayan communities and downstream infrastructure; Nepal's gated drainage plan is a structural mitigation measure that follows a detailed study. The way forward combines engineering with early-warning systems, lake monitoring, hazard mapping and regional cooperation among Himalayan countries including India.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
With reference to India, Didwana Kuchaman Sargol and Khatu are the names of
- glaciers
- mangrove areas
- Ramsar sites
- saline lakes
Show answer
Answer: D
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Consider the following statements about glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs):
- A GLOF is a sudden release of water from a lake dammed by glacial ice or moraine.
- GLOFs are confined to the Himalayan region.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: A — Correct: 1 only — Statement 1 is correct, as a GLOF is a sudden release from a glacier- or moraine-dammed lake; statement 2 is wrong, since GLOFs also occur in the Andes, the Alps and other mountain ranges. • 2 only — wrong: Statement 2 is wrong because GLOFs also occur in the Andes, the Alps and other glaciated ranges. • Both 1 and 2 — wrong: Statement 2 is wrong, so the two statements together cannot both be correct. • Neither 1 nor 2 — wrong: Statement 1 correctly defines a GLOF, so 'neither' cannot be right.
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