Kathmandu. Twenty years ago, the roofs of houses in Langtang area of the mountainous district of Rasuwa were mostly covered with snow.
There was a glacier flowing near the house. As soon as the young people woke up in the morning, they started cleaning the courtyard of the house by playing with the particles hanging like snow pearls. But now this experience is like a story of one country, says pasang Tamang, a local.
Even the current estimates of the locals, who expect snow to occur even when the sky is cloudy and there is a brief fall, have stopped working. At present, there is no sign of snow in the area around Langtang National Park. Tamang, chairman of the Intermediate Users Committee of Langtang National Park, said that until 20 years ago, the glacier had spread close to the settlement.
He says, “Earlier the glacier was up to the bottom, now the mountain has melted to the top. There was no such thing as landslide in the rainy season, now we do not know when it will come. There is also a fear of going on a trek. ’
He said that due to the increasing impact of climate change and the increase in global temperature, the mountains are in crisis. He said that due to the increase in temperature, there is a compulsion to walk cautiously as there is no indication of when the landslide will occur in the mountains.
Pasang suspects that the devastating earthquake of 2072 BS may have been caused by climate change. He pointed out that the impact of climate change is increasing due to lack of proper management of tourism business. He is worried that along the mountain lines, the tourism business will also be wiped out.
He added, “Due to global warming and climate change, we do not know when the landslide will occur. The 2015 earthquake also seems to be due to climate change and global warming. Tourism is the profession of the people of Langtang, but now the tourism business is also facing problems. ’
The experience of the locals who have seen the snow line move shows the impact of climate change on the mountains. Due to increasing industrialization and rapid and unnatural rise in the temperature of the earth, the life of the mountains is in danger.
Kancha Tamang, a hotelier based in Langtang, shared his experience of snow covering up to a height of one meter 20 years ago. He said that in the last few years, the glaciers have been going up. According to him, the hotel business operating in the area is not organized due to which the environment has been adversely affected.
He also stressed the need for the government to formulate proper standards for the hotels operating in the tourism sector. Although the number of tourists has increased, he feels that most of the locals are engaged in the hotel business.
“20 years ago, there was snow up to one metre above the ground. Small houses reached the level. It’s not like that now. Now the glassier also went up. The reason for this is that the hotel business here is also not organized. The government could not implement strict rules for hoteliers. We are doing it ourselves to spoil the climate. Instead of attracting tourists here, the work of waiting started. Now the source of income has decreased a lot after everyone started doing the same work,” he said.
Nearby Mountains. A human settlement covered in snow. Almost all the houses are hotels. Domestic tourists visiting The Canjen Valley of Langtang in Rasuwa district, which is the third choice of trekking tourists in Nepal, are surprised to see the garbage scattered across the ground.
The local government and the hoteliers themselves have failed to manage the waste properly in the waste management of the area. Pasang Lopchheng, a local, said he was worried that the increase in the number of tourists and the increase in the amount of waste would affect the tourism business in the coming days.
Earlier, even a little waste was buried in the soil, but now it is being burnt, due to which it is also increasing air pollution.
“Earlier, there were not many tourists. That would have reduced waste. The garbage was also being filled. Now there are a lot of things going on. Due to the burning of excess waste, the smoke is having a negative effect on the environment. A lot has changed now than ever before. Earlier, it used to be very cold in the summer, now it is getting hot. ’
In Langtang, the effects of climate change are beginning to be seen in all areas, geographical, economic, and social. The glaciers are shrinking, while landslides and irregular weather events are increasing. As the mountain line moves, the business of the village and the youth are also becoming pale.
Although the government organizes meetings and conferences from time to time to warn the world community on the issue of mountains, these meetings have become meaningless due to the non-participation of the affected people.
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