Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, chaired a review meeting on May 14 at the Civil Secretariat, Leh, to assess the progress and outline the future roadmap for the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR).

Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), presented an overview of the ongoing initiatives under the project. She highlighted key developments, including the distribution of telescopes to selected villagers in Hanle, training them as astro-tourism guides, conducting outreach programs to promote astro-tourism, introducing an astro-tourism curriculum, and revitalizing astronomy laboratories in schools across Ladakh.

Prof. Subramaniam noted that Hanle attracted around 28,000 tourists last year, underscoring the rising popularity of astro-tourism in the region. She also emphasized the importance of introducing astronomy training programs for school students to further enhance public engagement and scientific awareness.

Dr. Kotwal instructed the IIA to formally propose the introduction of the astro-tourism course, following the necessary vetting processes. He also directed the Institute of Hotel Management and the University of Ladakh to collaborate on launching an integrated course on hospitality and astronomy in a phased and structured manner.

Stressing the importance of field-level implementation, Dr. Kotwal asked the Department of Tourism to conduct an on-ground assessment in Hanle to evaluate ongoing efforts and extend the required support. He also underlined the need to train local residents in operating the installed telescopes across Ladakh to boost community participation.

In a push for global recognition, Dr. Kotwal directed the IIA to prepare a detailed roadmap for securing international accreditation for the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve at the earliest. Additionally, he raised concerns about lighting in army camps during nighttime and instructed relevant authorities to coordinate with defence stakeholders to address the issue.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Tourism Department, Ladakh; Chief Conservator of Forests, Ladakh; Assistant Director, Tourism, Leh; representatives from the Ladakh Pollution Control Committee (LPCC); the University of Ladakh; and representatives from the Indian Astronomical Observatory, led by Dorje Angchuk. Prof. Subramaniam and Dr. Niruj Mohan Ramanujam participated virtually.