KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that the government is making necessary preparations to break the dangerous glacial lakes.

Talking to media persons on Sunday, Minister Shrestha shared that the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation was doing homework to reduce the water level in the glacial lakes that are at the risk of disaster risk mitigation.

“Discussions are underway to pass the water surface by blasting the glacial lakes that are at risk. The water of the dangerous glacial lakes should be passed scientifically and made risk-free. We are serious about disaster preparedness. We will take a decision after the preparation is over,” he said.

Minister Shrestha also said that it has not been decided which lakes will be split. “We are consulting with experts. The names of many lakes have come up from the experts in the discussion. We are studying. We will take a decision to reduce the water level based on the amount of risk,” he said.

According to Minister Shrestha, the task of reducing the water level in the dangerous glacial lake would be forwarded this year in collaboration with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and the local level by mobilizing the assistance received from the Green Climate Fund (GCS).

According to a joint study by ICIMOD and UNDP, 21 glacial lakes are at risk in Nepal. There are four very high-risk glacial lakes in Koshi and Gandaki regions.