A glaciologist and earth scientist of international repute, Professor Shakil A Romshoo is currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora Kashmir and was till recently Dean for Research, University of Kashmir. He is highly regarded for his scientific calibre within and outside India by the national and global scientific community. Having obtained his Ph.D in Civil Engineering (water resources) from the University of Tokyo, Japan and Master’s Degree in Remote Sensing and GIS from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok Thailand, Prof. Romshoo has a multidisciplinary academic and research background.
Previously, he has worked as a scientist at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tokyo and Fellow at the Energy and Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi, India. Professor Romshoo has published more than 165 publications in peer reviewed national and international journals and book chapters as well. Besides academics, administration and consultancy, he is engaged in collaborative and sponsored research on hydrology, glaciology and climate change impact studies in the Himalayan region. This celebrated scientist from Kashmir is a member of scores of policy and decision-making committees and working groups related to environment, water, climate change and disaster management at the national and international level. Professor Romshoo has won several national and international awards for his academic achievements and notable among them are the Kasumigaura International Prize from Government of Japan in 2009, the National Geoscience Award from government of India conferred by the President of India on him in 2013 and the ISG President Appreciation Medal for the promotion of Geomatics in India in 2015. Last month, he was decorated with the Mahatma Gandhi Seva Puraskar Award by the Gandhi Global Family.
In an interview with Kashmir Observer’s Parvaiz Bhat, Prof Romshoo spoke about the rapid depletion of glaciers, threats due to natural disasters and other issues.
Q. Could you tell us about your tryst with Islamic University of Science and Technology (UST). As the VC of IUST, what are your immediate and long term goals?
I am currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Awantipora, Kashmir. Since joining the university in August 2021, we have implemented a comprehensive five-year strategy aimed at enhancing academic excellence, research, outreach, innovation, and entrepreneurship among our students.
This strategy entails a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary teaching, research in cutting-edge science and technology fields, fostering a culture of start-ups and entrepreneurship, and a significant focus on skilling our students. Our long-term objectives include transforming the university into a carbon-neutral institution, evolving IUST into a multidisciplinary education and research university (MERU) in alignment with NEP 2023, operating the solar and biodiversity parks, AYUSH park, wellness centre, establishing two new campuses in addition to city office and enhancing sports infrastructure among other initiatives.
Q. Before assuming the charge of vice chancellorship at IUST, you were the Dean for Research at Kashmir University. Do you think our region has the potential to compete with other regions of the country and South Asia in the field of scientific research? What are our shortcomings in terms of resources and human capital?
Undoubtedly, Kashmir has the necessary talent, expertise, and infrastructure necessary for undertaking cutting-edge research in both societal and scientific domains. We have several premier institutes in the valley that have already made significant contributions in various fields such as earth and environmental sciences, climate change, biodiversity, and various other fields. IUST has also recently made substantial advancements in unconventional areas like machine learning, start-ups, immunology, molecular medicine, and phytochemistry.
There are ample funding opportunities available both nationally and internationally to support innovative ideas. However, I believe our collective efforts would yield even better results if researchers from various institutes came together and pooled their human and scientific resources for their optimal utilization for knowledge generation to address issues of societal concern.
Q. As an earth scientist, how do you perceive the threats to our region from disasters such as earthquakes and floods? It is generally believed that there are not enough preparations for dealing with disasters in our region. What are your thoughts about that perception? What are the adaptive and mitigation measures which need to be taken?
While our region is blessed with a magnificent landscape and breath-taking scenic beauty, it’s an undeniable fact that we also face vulnerability to multiple hazards, including earthquakes, floods, avalanches, and landslides. Unfortunately, we have not yet fully embraced the concept of a disaster-conscious society. Our preparedness for such events remains alarmingly inadequate, and this lackadaisical approach is a cause for concern.
All of us, whether it be the government, society as a whole, or individuals, must recognize the seriousness of our vulnerability to disasters and take proactive steps to address it. It is imperative that we develop action plans at various levels, including our own homes, to minimize the adverse impacts in the event of a disaster.
Q. Going by the results of your own research and the studies which have been carried out under your guidance, land-use changes have happened in various regions of Kashmir on a large scale especially in farmlands, wetlands and forests. Could you please briefly describe those changes and their present and future impacts?
Yes, we have observed substantial Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes in the valley, driven primarily by economic considerations and other anthropogenic needs. One notable shift has been the significant transition from paddy cultivation to horticulture (fruit orchards) due to the higher economic returns it offers, up to 5-6 times more. Additionally, the expansion of built-up areas has kept pace with the growing population’s demands. Over the past four decades, there has been a significant loss of forests in the region.
These LULC changes have had adverse impacts on various land surface processes and other ecological processes, affecting nearly every sector of the economy and human life. For instance, while the expansion of horticulture has brought substantial economic benefits, it has also resulted in the extensive use of pesticides in the valley, leading to adverse effects on human health, a deeply concerning issue facing the society. Furthermore, the consequences of deforestation, such as increased landslides, flooding, and other disasters, raise significant concerns.
Q. Based on your research, you have been maintaining for several years that air quality in the Kashmir Valley deteriorates significantly during autumn, with the level of fine particulate hitting several times the permissible level. Why is it so and what are its impacts? What sort of remedial measures should be taken?
It is a fact that the air quality in Kashmir is typically pristine. However, during autumn and winter, there is a significant deterioration in air quality, attributable to both natural and anthropogenic factors. Natural factors include the geomorphic layout of Kashmir, where lofty mountains surround the valley. In winter, when the planetary boundary layer descend and envelop the valley like a lid, it traps pollutants within the valley, leading to an increase in pollutant concentration, particularly during the winter months. Temperature inversion phenomenon is also frequently observed during winters, further exacerbating the situation. The burning of woody biomass and hard coke for heating purposes in winter adds to the problem.
Moreover, the extensive expansion of horticulture in Kashmir has resulted in the burning of pruned twigs and fallen leaves during autumn, which significantly deteriorates air quality. Additionally, non-macadamized dusty roads, a large number of brick kilns, crushers, and the growing transport and use of construction materials and dust all contribute to the bad air quality challenges faced in the region.
Q. As regards the status of glaciers in our region, you have published dozens of papers analysing different aspects of glaciers including the impacts of climate change on glaciers. What is the present status of our glaciers and what are the future projections? How do you see our region in terms of overall impacts of climate change in the next few decades?
The most important resource in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh namely glaciers and the waters emanating from these glaciers, is bearing the brunt of rising temperatures attributed to climate change. The region is home to approximately 18,000 glaciers, which have experienced significant melting over the past few decades due to climate change. However, in the last few years, we have witnessed unprecedented glacier melting in the Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh Himalayas.
It is disheartening that this invaluable resource is depleting more rapidly than anticipated due to the increasing impacts of climate change. Without concrete global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we may lose up to 75% of our glaciers in the Kashmir valley by the end of this century. It is unfortunate that despite being among the least contributors to climate change, we are facing its most severe consequences.
The adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and disasters, are expected to intensify further under the projected climate changes in the region, with significant implications for natural resources and livelihoods.
Q. As climate change impacts strengthen and water security becomes a growing concern in both India and Pakistan, the likelihood of reduced river flows related to climate change will have a significant impact on water-sharing between the two countries. How do you see this? India has proposed renegotiating the six-decade-old water sharing Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, a move Pakistan opposes. What are your thoughts on this? Should the treaty be renegotiated?
We have already witnessed a substantial loss of glaciers in the catchment areas of the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), which feeds into the three major rivers of the Indus-Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus from Ladakh. Consequently, streamflows have exhibited a significant decline, particularly since the mid-1990s. The sharing of waters originating from the UIB is governed by the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, the treaty does not account for the impacts of climate change on water-sharing mechanisms.
In the face of ongoing glacier melt due to climate change, we anticipate a continued depletion of streamflows in the UIB, which will adversely affect the water-sharing arrangements between the two countries. The IWT does not consider several crucial factors, such as climate change, groundwater, and water pollution, which have recently emerged as significant areas of concern. Therefore, it is in the best interests of both nations to address these aspects. I firmly believe that science should inform water diplomacy when it comes to water-sharing agreements between the two countries.
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