The proactive response to GLOF Risk at Punakha

2. • Bhutan
is
small
country
(~40Ksq
Kms)
located
in
the
fragile
Himalayas
• The
popula>on
is
about
700,000
and
only
1%
of
the
total
land
is
es>mated
to
be
arable
• The
primary
income
source
for
the
country
is
Hydropower
exports
and
Tourism
• Any
Risk/loss
is
substan>al
in
perspec>ve
of
its
size
and
popula>on

3. Punakha
Valley
lies
in
the
western
part
of
the
country.

4. Cultural
Tours,
River
raPing,
trekking
is
a
main
source
of
income
for
many
in
Punakha

5. • Hydropower
Revenues
form
up
to
30%
of
na>onal
revenues,
expected
to
increase
to
about
50%
of
na>onal
revenues
• Two
Large
hydro
power
projects
with
over
1000MW
installed
capacity
lie
along
this
river

6. Glacial
Lakes
such
as
these
are
sources
of
water
for
the
rivers
flowing
in
Bhutan

7. Google-­‐map
view
of
the
glacial
lakes
which
are
sources
of
water
for
the
PunatsangChhu

8. Clima>c
changes
globally
causes
glaciers
to
melt
faster.
Large
chunks
of
ice
falling
into
the
large
glacial
lakes
causes
sudden
increase
in
flow
of
water
in
the
rivers,
causing
damage
to
in
the
valleys.
Punakha
Valley
has
experienced
many
such
floods
causing
loss
of
life,
damage
to
property,
affects
the
aqua>c
life,
affects
arable
land,
affects
tourism.

9. Damages
to
aqua>c
life,
livelihood
arable,
land
as
a
result
of
the
flood

10. Damage
to
arable
land

11. Damages
to
infrastructure

12. Before
and
aPer
floods

13. Mi>ga>on
Measures
:
Glacial
lakes
were
surveyed.
Poten>al
impact
surveyed.
High
risk
glacial
lakes
iden>fied
.
Early
warning
sirens
installed
and
local
community
trained
on
response.

14. The
Risk
of
glacial
lake
outbursts
to
the
Punakha
valley
is
receiving
its
due
a_en>on;
Incen%ves
Decision
makers
are
concerned
because
of
its
direct
impact
on
Hydropower
and
Tourism
Behavioral
Relevant
communi>es
are
being
sensi>zed
and
trained
on
response.
Informa%on
Technical
informa>on
has
been
collected
and
disseminated
Resources
Adequate
resources
are
being
mobilized
to
create
awareness,
install
early
warning
system.

15. Mi>ga>on
Measures
:
Manually
reducing
the
levels
of
glacial
lakes.
The
reduced
quan>ty
of
water
in
the
lakes
reduces
the
possible
impact
of
floods

16. Mi>ga>on
and
Coping
:
Schema>c
of
the
Early
warning
system
installed
in
the
Punakha
Valley

17. Coping
Mechanism
:
Led
by
His
Majesty
the
King,
a
search
and
rescue
team
called
“Desuups”
are
being
constantly
trained
to
help
the
affected
during
floods
and
other
disasters.

18. The
GNH
Country
has
its
share
of
Risks.
With
effec>ve
governance
and
assistance
from
interna>onal
donors,
the
risks
associated
with
glacial
lake
outbursts
are
being
mi>gated
and
coping
mechanisms
being
ins>tuted.