Kathmandu, June 8: The work of reducing the water level of the Tsho Rolpa glacial lake by opening the gate of the canal built at Gohi village development committee of Dolakha district began today.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was scheduled to initiate the work of reducing the water level of the glacier lake today but could not do so because of unfavourable weather condition.

According to director general of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology Adarsha Prasad Pokherel, 6,000 liters of water per second is being released through a canal from the glacier lake. The level of water can be reduced or increased as required, he added.

The work of releasing the water from the Tsho-Rolpa glacier lake is being undertaken with the objective of reducing the level of water by three meters within two weeks, and lessening the danger of the lake bursting and causing floods.

The Tsho Rolpa glacier lake is located 110 kilometers northest of Kathmandu at an altitude of 4,500 metres in Rolwaling valley of Gauri Shanker VDC, Dolakha district.

The Tsho-Rolpa glacier lake (3,300 ft in length and 500 meters in breadth) covers an area of 1.65 kilometers and is 55 meters deep in average. The area of the glacier lake has been gradually increasing and if the lake bursts it is likely to affect 10,000 people living in Rolwaling valley and the banks of the Tamakoshi river as well as the Khimti hydroelectricity project, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

There is no danger of the Tsho-Rolpa glacier lake bursting as the work of reducing three meters of water has already started, according Mr Pokherel.

The Netherlands government had provided a grant assistance of Rs 199.5 million to complete the Tsho Rolpa glacier lake outburst flood risk reduction project.

Butwal power company and Himal Hydro Power are the contractor and sub-contractor of the Tsho Rolpa glacier lake outburst flood risk reduction project. Reynolds Ge-sciences limited had undertaken study of the glacier lake as an international technical advisor.

A geo-penetrating radar capable of seeing 30 meters below the ground has been installed by Nepalese technicians and a foreign technical advisor under the project.

It is estimated that about Rs 400 million will be required to reduce 20 meters of water in the glacier lake in the next two years, according to director general Pokherel.

Mr Pokherel said that as the first phase work of the Tsho Rolpa glacier lake project has been completed it will be inspected and monitored regularly.

The area of the Tsho Rolpa glacier lake has increased from 0.23 kilometers in 1957 to 1.27 kilometers in 1990 and 1.65 kilometers at present.

His Majesty’s Government has installed flood warning sirens at 19 settlements of 17 villages in Baisakh, 2055 B.S. to check the loss of lives and property from the outburst of the Tsho Rolpa glacier lake.