The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognisance on 24 April 2026 of media reports on unstable hanging glaciers in the central Himalayas. The Principal Bench of the NGT registered Original Application No. 258/2026, and the Bench comprised Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad.
Hanging Glaciers
Hanging glaciers are glaciers that rest on steep mountain slopes and often terminate above the valley floor. Such glaciers are found in high-altitude mountain systems, including the Himalayas, the Alps, and the Andes.
Alaknanda Basin Study
A study published in Nature’s journal Natural Hazards identified 219 hanging glaciers in Uttarakhand’s Alaknanda basin. The study covered the Badrinath, Mana, and Hanuman Chatti regions, which lie in the upper Alaknanda valley.
Glacier Hazards In Mountain Regions
- Unstable glaciers on steep slopes can generate avalanches in snow-covered mountain terrain.
- Glacier retreat is a measurable reduction in glacier mass and area over time.
- Seismic sensitivity is relevant in the Himalayas because the region lies in a tectonically active zone.
- Downstream disaster risk increases where settlements, roads, and tourism infrastructure are located below glacier-fed slopes.
Human Settlement And Exposure
Research contributions came from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Built-up area within vulnerable zones increased from about 8,000 square metres in 2000 to more than 150,000 square metres by 2030 along the Badrinath-Mana stretch.
Legal And Institutional Context
The NGT noted a prima facie issue under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Notices were issued to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, and the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
Himalayan Glacier Geography
The Himalayas contain thousands of glaciers that feed major river systems such as the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra. Uttarakhand has several glacier-fed basins, including the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi systems. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for 6 August 2026. The case is registered as Original Application No. 258/2026 before the NGT Principal Bench.
Last Modified: April 25, 2026