Siachen: Turning an Ecological Graveyard

The Siachen dispute between India and Pakistan is a geo-political legacy of the partition of Indian subcontinent. Beyond the well propounded, oft-repeated strategic conundrum, there is also an ecological dimension to Siachen. The majestic Himalayan range has witnessed unprecedented degradation due to the presence of the armies of India and Pakistan; especially as global warming accelerates the melting of the ice caps.

Siachen Glacier, located near the world’s second highest mountain K2 (nicknamed as Savage Mountain) in the Karakoram range, is an endangered ecosystem. The 78 km long Siachen glacier lies between the Saltoro ridge line to the west and the main Karakoram range to the east. The Saltoro ridge originates from the Sia Kangri peak in the Karakoram, where the altitudes range from 5500 meteres (18,000 feet) to 7300 meteres (24,000 feet).

In Siachen, the presence of nearly 15,000 troops on its two sides has seriously strained the ecosystem on account of consuming food, defecating, soiling and the littering of the area. Much of the debris will flow into the Indus as the glacier melts. With so many humans living on the glacier the accumulation of garbage is in abundance. Much of garbage was put into crevasses or dumped on rocks and snow. In winters all this is covered under 5-6 metre of snow. But in summer when snow melts all the cans, drums and human waste can be seen scattered everywhere. Aluminum foil, used to package fruit juice cans and other eatable items cannot be destroyed. They line the routes and cut a sorry figure.

Human waste, more than a tonne a day is required to be packed in metal drums and dropped into crevasses approximately 4100 drums a year. This massive pollutant, together with hundreds of tonnes of garbage is going to negate inter-generational justice, very fundamental to ecological ethics. Besides, there is chemical contamination as well due to the use of ammunition. India airlifts food and vital supplies to supplement material that goes up on an all-weather road. Fuel needed for cooking and keeping warm is provided by India through a 250 km long pipeline. The pipeline meant to pump thousands of litres of kerosene for troops to survive, often causes serious hazards, especially when due to a connection break or pipe bursts hundreds of litres of kerosene is spilled on the snow.

The Siachen glacier’s melting waters are the vital source of the Shyok River which joins the Indus River, crucial to millions of people in both India and Pakistan. Vehicular traffic and the heat generated from the activities on this 21,000 foot high glacier have led to unprecedented melting and diminishing of this glacier. Currently temperature rise in the area is recorded as 0.2 degrees Celsius annually. Such human activities have resulted into modifications and alterations in the delicate ecological balance, causing destructive snow avalanches, formation of glacial lakes, and snow holes which killing a large number of soldiers every year.

The Siachen conflict has affected four other glaciers: Gangotri, Miyar, Milan, and Janapa. The first two glaciers feed the Ganges, while Chenab, and Sutlej rivers are fed by the last two respectively. This is because of the heavy traffic on the Indian road from the plains to Siachen passing near these glaciers on the Delhi-Manali-Leh route. This finding is corroborated by a recent report by Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The Siachen glacier is also severe threat due to the Baltal route to the holy Amarnath cave, which is frequented by thousands of pilgrims. Heavy pilgrim traffic besides mountain expeditions and trekking has compounded the problem. When pilgrims can cause so much damage to the glaciers, one can imagine the consequences from the continual presence of troops given their high-energy requirement.

The glacier and its surrounding region is quite rich in biodiversity. This is the abode of leopards, brown bears and ibex. But ecologists believe that these and other species are now under severe threat from the enormous human activity in the area. Meanwhile the World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists nearly half the regions mammalian diversity as threatened. Several species, such as the Tibetan gazelle, are understood to be on the brink of extinction.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s idea of converting the world’s highest battlefield into a mountain of peace appears realistic and it has many takers as far as restoring peace and tranquility in the region is concerned. A Siachen peace park driven by adventure sport may also create room for a politico-strategic interaction between India and Pakistan and may lessen the conflict to large extent. After all what right we have to degrade the majestic mountains of Himalayas which are the source of water for millions in the Sub-continent.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views either of the Editorial Committee or the Centre for Land Warfare Studies).