Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) chaired the meeting of the 8th State Board of Wildlife of UT Ladakh on May 24 at Raj Niwas.

Several points were discussed during the meeting, including clearance for various developmental projects in Ladakh from the State Board of Wildlife of UT Ladakh. There were detailed discussions on the need for comprehensive planning on linear infrastructure activities as per instructions issued by the Government of India, the need for deviating roads from grazing lands and wetlands on the Hanle-Chumur route in the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary to protect the wildlife, the need to rationalize the boundaries of Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, and Hemis National Park at the earliest, etc.

The Board members discussed various projects, including the construction of the Korzok-Nurbo-Sumdo road, Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok road, Mahe-Nidder-Rongo road, Lukung-Chartse road, Chumathang-Chushul road, Hanley-Zursar-Imis La road, the establishment of a task force at Hanley and the establishment of road construction coy at Dungti under Project Himank; the work on the upgradation of the Leh-Chalunka road in three parts under Project Vijayak; the Mandal Thang Field Firing Range; the establishment of J&K Bank’s ATM at Pangong Lake and the installation of 4G mobile towers by BSNL under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) Category 1 on 65 forest land in Ladakh.

Post-detailed discussion, the Board approved all these projects keeping in mind their importance for national security and also for the ease and convenience of the people living in both these Wildlife Sanctuaries and Hemis National Park. 
 
Renowned wildlife expert Dr. MK Ranjitsinh highlighted the need to control feral dogs in wildlife areas and requested the Indian Army to control the dumping of food waste to avoid feral dogs and bears in Ladakh. He stated that a lot of problems arising due to the inclusion of a large number of areas of Ladakh in Karakoram/Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and Hemis National Park would be solved after the completion of the exercise of the process of rationalization of wildlife boundaries by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

LG emphasised the need for a different road alignment from the wildlife areas and stated that strict punitive actions will be taken against culprits engaging in poaching activities. He also inquired about the delay in putting up sign boards, and barricades/fences on the Hanley-Chumur route to protect the wetlands and grazing ground and instructed the concerned officials to do it at the earliest.

Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson; Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee; Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Mohsin Ali; Principal Secretary, Dr. Pawan Kotwal; Principal Secretary, Sanjeev Khirwar; ADGP Ladakh Police, Satish Khandare; PCCF Jigmet Takpa; Wildlife expert Dr. MK Ranjitsinh; Regional Wildlife Warden, Sajad Mufti; representatives from Border Roads Organisation, Indian Army, J&K Bank, BSNL and several other officials from different organisations and institutions joined the meeting physically and virtually.