The Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has said that he is concerned over the melting of glaciers in the Tibetan plateau as they seem to be melting at an alarming rate. The glaciers are a lifeline for the asian rivers, including the Indus and the Ganges. He is concerned that once the glaciers melt away, then the rivers will dry up and water supplies will be threatened. This could affect over a billion people that live in India and some in China, as well.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama used research provided by Chinese experts, saying that “the Tibetan glaciers are retreating faster than anywhere else in the world”. He added that the ecology in Tibet is “something very, very essential”.
“India, a free country, I think should express more serious concern, that’s I think important. This is nothing to do with politics, just everybody’s interest, including Chinese people also,” said the Tibetan spiritual leader.
He expressed his concern not just for the Tibetan people, but because; “millions of Indians use water coming from the Himalayan glacier, so you have a certain right to show your concern about the ecology of that plateau”.
He also expressed his concern over water shortages in the region, and the strain that is starting to show on access to freshwater in both India and China.
“In terms of the ecological aspect of the issue, more than a billion people in the Asian regions maybe depend on the water that comes from rivers that originate on the Tibetan plateau. Therefore, people in the region who will be impacted by changes to the Tibetan environment have the right to express their concern at the future of Tibet,” said the Dalai Lama.
Read More: huffingtonpost
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