Delegations of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forest were on a 4-days visit to Leh from 27 May to 29 May. The committee comprises of members of different political parties. On 28 May, a press conference was called on to discuss and highlight some of the issues raised during their visit.

During the press conference Ashwani Kumar, Chairman said that as Ladakh’s economy is largely dependent on army and tourism but they need to be an instrument for environment protection rather than environment destruction. Army’s involvement as stakeholders in protecting the environment of Ladakh would be a useful contribution. 

There is a need to create a balance between nature and ecology of Ladakh. He said, “The impact of tourism on agriculture, livestock, water availability and its impact on the traditional way of living of nomads and shepherds needs to be considered”.

Ashwani Kumar informed during the press conference that earlier it was decided during the meeting that a committee would be constituted consisting of the representatives of the civil society organizations and NGO’s under the supervision of DC Leh Saugat Biswas so that civil societies can have a say in matters related to environment. 

Keeping in mind the increasing cases of cancer in Leh, the delegations further decided to ask TATA Medical Centre, Mumbai and Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi to actively cooperate with government of Jammu and Kashmir and district administration Leh to find the reasons and ways to prevent it. 

Some of the points raised included commercialization of medicinal plants, effect of climate change like flash floods, drying up of lakes, melting of glaciers, soil erosion and rise of temperature in water bodies etc. There is a major proposal for National Large Solar Telescope with 2 meters in diameter to be installed at Hanle, Ladakh worth ₹ 400 crores. Apart from this, a National Large Optical Telescope of 8 to 10-meter diameter worth Rs. 600 crores would be installed in Ladakh by 2022. 

He instructed the district administration to remove the open garbage from the road side and dump it somewhere else to avoid pollution. To make Ladakh greener and to avoid soil erosion, here would be huge plantation drive in Leh funded by Central government. 

Ashwani Kumar further instructed the Deputy Commissioner Leh to take up the matter of solid waste management in a planned manner as dumps should not be thrown or burnt in open. 

Some of the delegations present during the press conference were Paul Manoj Pandian, Bhupinder Singh, Bimla Kashyab, M.K. Khan and district officers of Leh.