IHG (Institute of Himalayan Glaciology):-

Glaciological studies in J&K State

The Jammu and Kashmir State, has a total area of 222,936 sq.km. Towards south the state is contiguous to the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab with whom its boundaries are marked by the watershed ridge separating the Chenab catchments and the Siul river catchments and by the river Ravi respectively. Pakistan lies to the southwest, west and northwest of the state, Afghanistan to the north and China towards northeast and east. Jammu region forms the southern part of the state and is delimited from the Kashmir region by the watershed of the northwest-southeast trending Pir Panjal Range, the northerly trending Saribal Range. Towards northeast, Jammu adjoins the Ladakh region from which the lofty Great Himalayan Range separates it. The Great Himalayan Range also demarcates the boundary between Kashmir and Ladakh region. The state is traversed by several conspicuous parallel northwest-southeast trending mountain ranges, the chief amongst which are the Dhauladhar Range, Pir Panjal Range, Great Himalayan Range, Zanskar Range, The Ladakh Range, etc. The major drainage of the Ladakh region is the river Indus and its tributaries the Suru, Shyok, Zanskar and Dras whereas the Kashmir region is drained mostly by the river Jhelum and its tributaries. The Jammu region forms part of the Indus basin and is drained mostly by the Chenab river and its tributaries except part of eastern side which is drained by the Ravi river and its tributaries. 
In all 5067 glaciers confine in Indus, Ganga and Brahamaputra basins covering an area of 9139 km2 of Himalaya extending from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. Nearly 60% (3136) of these glaciers occupy the part of Himalaya spread over Indus, Shyok, Jhelum and Chenab river basins of Jammu and Kashmir state. These glaciers cover almost 13% of the land area of the Jammu & Kashmir state. The glaciers in Jammu & Kashmir state are distributed over Liddar valley, Sind valley, Drass valley and Suru valley. Details of each valley is given below:

Valley	Total area (km2)	No. of glaciers	Glacerised area  (km2)	Glacierised percent	Total ice volume (km3)
Liddar	1282.55	48	38.95	3.03	1.389
Sind	1142.00	57	38.38	3.36	1.413
Dras	NA	62	165.19	NA	NA
Suru	NA	96	303.32	NA	NA
Zanskar	NA	697	1097.26	7.28	62.02

They are important natural resources on which the well being of the state depends, in one or the other way. As such it is imperative to study these water banks extensively for the welfare of state's economy and future development. 
To meet the increasing demand of water owing to the growing population and industrialization in Jammu & Kashmir State, continuous development of new sources of water for irrigation, hydropower, domestic and industrial supply is needed. Further, planning of new multipurpose projects on Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers in the state emphasize the need of reliable estimates of snow and glacier melt runoff.

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