Nepal has launched a six-year, $50 million project to lower the water levels of four dangerous glacial lakes in the Himalayas. Named the ‘GLOF Sanjeevani Project’, the initiative aims to reduce the risk of natural dams bursting and causing large-scale flooding, following a deadly disaster in August.
The project, set to run from 2026 to 2033, will focus on Tulagi Lake in Manang district, Lower Barun Lake in Sankhuwasabha district, and Lumding Tso and Hongu II lakes in Solukhumbu district. These lakes are situated at altitudes ranging from 4,050 to 5,483 meters. The plan involves diverting water in a controlled manner through special channels to neighboring rivers, with the goal of reducing the lakes’ water levels by up to three meters.
The August disaster, which involved a glacier collapse, landslides, and flash floods, reportedly killed more than 1,400 people and left over 5,000 missing, according to international reports. However, official Nepali sources have reported lower casualty figures for recent flood and landslide events. Nepal Police stated that 236 people died and 19 went missing due to continuous rainfall, floods, and landslides by September 28. Separately, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported at least 21 deaths, five missing, and five injured from heavy rainfall between September 24 and 27.
Addressing a growing climate threat
The ‘GLOF Sanjeevani Project’ also includes installing sensors, developing flood forecasting and early warning systems, and preparing communities living downstream for potential disasters. The project is jointly funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Government of Nepal. It will be implemented under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation.
A 2020 study identified 47 glacial lakes in Nepal, China, and India as high-risk, with 21 of them located in Nepal. Experts warn that the number and scale of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and ice avalanches have increased over the past three decades due to climate change.
The August 26 disaster, which Prime Minister Balen Shah described as a serious warning of climate change at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, originated from an icefall or rockfall in the Lhende Khola area of China’s Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, north-east of Rasuwagadhi. The resulting flood cascaded through the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers.
Past successes and ongoing efforts
Nepal has a history of successfully mitigating the risks posed by dangerous glacial lakes. The water level of Tso Rolpa glacial lake in Dolakha district, believed to have formed after the 1950s, was lowered in 2000 with financial and technical assistance from the Netherlands government.
Similarly, the water level of Imja glacial lake, located in Sagarmatha National Park in Solukhumbu district and thought to have formed around 1960, was reduced by approximately 3.5 meters. This project was implemented by the Nepali Army with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In response to the recent floods, forensic laboratories in Nepal are conducting DNA testing on thousands of samples to identify victims. The Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), a permanent secretariat that assists the Government of Nepal and water resources ministries in policy formulation and project planning, has also initiated policy dialogues. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) regularly conducts disaster risk reduction and management training and publishes disaster statistics.
Unanswered questions remain
While the ‘GLOF Sanjeevani Project’ is slated to begin main construction after detailed studies, the scope and specific timeline of these studies, as well as who will conduct them, have not yet been disclosed. A definitive start date for the main construction phase has also not been set, with authorities only stating it could take up to six years after the detailed studies are complete.
Furthermore, the high casualty figures of over 1,400 deaths and 5,000 missing reported for the August disaster require further confirmation from official Nepali sources, given the lower numbers reported for other recent flood and landslide incidents by national authorities.
Looking ahead, the Development, Economic Affairs, and Good Governance Committee of the National Assembly, the upper house of parliament, is preparing to present a white paper with scientific evidence for climate compensation at the 31st Climate Conference, scheduled to be held in Türkiye in November.
