Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Location of Sedongpu Gully
Mains level: Cause of Mass Wasting Events;
Why in the News?
A recent study on frequent mass wasting in Sedongpu Gully and rapid warming raises concerns for India’s Northeast region.
About Sedongpu Gully:
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Mass Wasting in the Gully: Stats and Reasons
- Since 2017, over 700 million cubic meters of debris have been mobilized in the Sedongpu Gully catchment, with more than 68% of the total 19 identified mass-wasting events occurring in this period.
- The events include ice-rock avalanches (IRAs), ice-moraine avalanches (IMAs), and glacier debris flows (GDFs).
- Causes: The increased frequency of mass wasting is attributed to a combination of long-term warming and seismic activity.
- The area rarely experienced temperatures above 0º C before 2012, but climate change has led to significant warming, destabilizing permafrost and increasing landslide activity.
- The 6.4-magnitude Nyingchi earthquake in November 2017 also contributed to the destabilization of slopes.
Implications of sedimentation from mass wasting events:
- River Choking and Flash Floods: The study warns that the increased sedimentation from mass wasting events could choke river channels, particularly affecting the Brahmaputra River system.
- Hydropower Projects: China is planning to construct a massive 60-gigawatt hydropower project on the Tsangpo River, which could exacerbate sedimentation issues downstream.
- This project is expected to have three times the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, raising concerns about river management and flood risks in India and Bangladesh.
- Historical Flood Events: Past incidents, like the 2000 floods in Arunachal Pradesh caused by landslides blocking the Tsangpo River, show how dangerous landslides can be for areas downstream.
- The chance of similar disasters is higher now because of the ongoing geological instability in the Sedongpu Gully.
Way forward:
- Bilateral and Multilateral Dialogues: India should intensify diplomatic efforts with China, advocating for shared water management strategies and transparency in hydropower projects on the Tsangpo River.
- Real-Time Monitoring: Establish advanced real-time monitoring systems for the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries, using satellite imagery, remote sensing, and ground-based observations to track landslides, sedimentation, and water flow.
Mains question for practice:
Q Discuss the potential risks posed by the increasing frequency of mass wasting events in the Sedongpu Gully and the implications for India’s Northeast region. (150 words) 10M
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