New Delhi: Climate activist and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk has penned an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warning that the next Maha Kumbh after 144 years may take place on sand as India’s rivers could dry up due to rapidly melting Himalayan glaciers.
In his letter, Wangchuk highlighted the alarming rate at which Himalayan glaciers—the primary source of rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra—are depleting. He urged the Indian government to take global leadership in glacier preservation, emphasizing that the issue demands immediate national attention.
“India needs to take the lead in glacier preservation, as the Himalayas are the source of our sacred rivers. If deforestation and glacier melting continue at this rate, our great rivers could become seasonal streams,” Wangchuk wrote.
Calling himself an admirer of PM Modi’s environmental initiatives, Wangchuk proposed the formation of a dedicated commission to assess the state of Himalayan glaciers and their long-term sustainability. He stressed the lack of awareness among the general public regarding the crisis and its potential catastrophic consequences.
“If no concrete action is taken, the sacred rivers that define our civilization may no longer exist in their present form, and future Maha Kumbh gatherings may take place on dry riverbeds,” he warned.
Wangchuk also requested a meeting with the prime minister, proposing that a delegation from Ladakh present a block of ice from a rapidly melting glacier as a symbolic message from climate-affected communities.
