The article briefly deals with the Himalayan Mountain System and the associated natural hazards due to huge snow and glacier fields at the highest elevation. Due to inherent sensitivity of these apex systems to global climatic change, emphasis is laid to initiate interdisciplinary research in hydrology affecting ecology and environment. Recommendations of a Regional Working Group on Mountain Hydrology are included for serious consideration by decision makers. Some salient aspects of precipitation characteristics of the region are included along with a description of Himalayan water resources. Conservation of mega biodiversity of the region is introduced pointing out the need for collation of available data bases. The urgency for the establishment of scientific data bases for natural resources is emphasised as an inter-departmental national project with a high level support and coordination for sustainable development of mountains and concurrently saving the Indo-Gangetic plains from desertification due to ravaging floods and recurrent droughts.
