Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena chaired the first meeting of the Advisory Council of the Union Territory of Ladakh, convened to deliberate upon the major developmental projects being undertaken in the Union Territory.

The meeting witnessed detailed discussions on critical areas, including long-term water security, agricultural sustainability, local employment, tourism promotion, heritage conservation, Pashmina development, promotion of sea buckthorn, major infrastructure initiatives, and administrative reforms, among others.
 
The Lieutenant Governor underscored the Administration’s commitment to ensuring water security in Ladakh through innovative interventions such as Project Him Sarovar, which envisages the creation of water storage ponds to harness glacial and snowmelt runoff. He urged the Advisory Council members to come up with out-of-the-box and innovative ideas, aimed at strengthening climate resilience, promoting tourism and creating new local employment avenues.
 
On the Pashmina sector, the Lieutenant Governor reiterated Ladakh’s resolve to safeguard and promote its globally renowned heritage. He informed the members that the Administration has extended a 25 per cent subsidy to Pashmina wool growers and is targeting an increase in the Pashmina goat population to 4 lakh by next year. He emphasised that the Administration is prioritising Pashmina development to ensure sustainable livelihoods for Changpa herders and position Ladakh as a leading producer of premium-quality Pashmina.
 
Addressing the promotion of sea buckthorn, Saxena noted that a Sea Buckthorn Conclave was successfully organised earlier this year, reflecting the Administration’s commitment to harnessing the potential of this unique resource. He informed that Ladakh has achieved a production of 2,200 tonnes of sea buckthorn this year, and that a dedicated processing plant is coming up in Nubra to add value and expand market opportunities.