Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said the government is making necessary preparations to lower water levels in glacial lakes considered potentially risky.
“Discussions are underway on blasting risky glacial lakes to release water and lower their water levels. We need to scientifically drain water from high-risk glacial lakes to reduce the risks,” Shrestha said. “We will take a decision once the necessary preparations are complete.”
Shrestha said the government was consulting experts on ways to reduce the risks. “A decision to lower water levels would be taken based on the level of risk posed by individual lakes,” he added.
According to Shrestha, the government will use assistance received from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to work with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and local governments to lower water levels in risky glacial lakes this year.
A joint study by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has identified 21 glacial lakes in Nepal as potentially dangerous.
Four of the lakes, located in the Koshi and Gandaki regions, have been classified as posing an extremely high risk.
