Ladakh LG approves 16 key defence, other projects with strict eco-compliance mandate
He, however, reiterated that although defense preparedness and infrastructure development in the border region of Ladakh were vital for national security, these should be pursued with uncompromising adherence to environmental protection measures.
The Lieutenant Governor, who chaired the 14th meeting of the State Board of Wildlife Conservation here, emphasized that the directives issued by the Ministry of Forests, Ecology and Environment have been fully complied with to ensure that construction or operational activities do not disrupt the local biodiversity.
Approval for all the projects was granted subject to mandatory implementation of the guidelines and recommendations contained in the Biological Impact Assessment Report, which assesses both positive and negative impacts on the sensitive high-altitude ecosystems of Ladakh.
Gupta also highlighted the binding orders of the Supreme Court in MK Ranjitsinh and Union of India, which required the installation of crow fly diverters, cable insulation and collision avoidance mechanisms throughout new infrastructure to minimize crow fly risks.
The Lt Governor emphasized that Ladakh’s unique biodiversity, ranging from high-altitude wetlands to habitats of globally sensitive species, requires the highest degree of ecological responsibility from all institutions operating in protected areas. He noted that sustainable development, especially in border areas of national strategic importance, must go hand in hand with conservation imperatives to preserve Ladakh’s natural heritage for future generations. Gupta directed the Army and BRO to ensure establishment, improvement and stringent maintenance of waste treatment facilities, including separation, scientific processing and safe disposal using modern technologies.
He also ordered a complete ban on throwing food scraps or garbage outside operational complexes.
