Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, underscored the urgent need for robust solid and liquid waste management systems in the strategically sensitive and ecologically fragile zones of the Karakoram and Changthang Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Chairing the 14th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife at the LG Secretariat on November 19, the Lt Governor reviewed and approved 16 projects of the Indian Army, Power Development Department (PDD), and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) within the two sanctuaries. He reiterated that while defence preparedness and infrastructure development are crucial for national security in Ladakh’s frontier region, they must be undertaken with uncompromising adherence to environmental safeguards.

The Lt Governor stressed strict compliance with directives issued by the Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment to ensure that construction and operational activities do not disturb local biodiversity. Project approvals were granted subject to full implementation of the guidelines and recommendations outlined in the Biological Impact Assessment Report, which assesses both positive and adverse impacts on Ladakh’s high-altitude ecosystems.

He further highlighted the binding Supreme Court directions in M.K. Ranjitsinh vs Union of India, mandating installation of bird-flight diverters, cable insulation, and collision-prevention mechanisms across new infrastructure to minimise risks to avifauna.

Emphasising Ladakh’s unique biodiversity—from high-altitude wetlands to habitats of globally vulnerable species—the Lt Governor said all agencies operating in protected areas must uphold the highest standards of ecological responsibility. Sustainable development, particularly in border regions of strategic importance, must advance in tandem with conservation imperatives to protect Ladakh’s natural heritage for future generations.

He directed the Army and the BRO to establish, upgrade, and strictly maintain waste treatment systems, including segregation, scientific processing, and safe disposal using modern technologies. He also ordered a complete ban on dumping leftover food or garbage outside operational complexes.

Earlier, APCCF Ladakh S. Rajesh presented an overview of recent conservation initiatives, including Wildlife Week 2025 programmes, International Snow Leopard Day activities, and measures to mitigate waste-related threats to wildlife habitats.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal; DGP Dr. S.D. Singh Jamwal; eminent wildlife expert Dr. M.K. Ranjitsinh Jhala; Administrative Secretary Rudra Goud PT; ADDC Leh Sonam Nurboo; and senior officials from the Wildlife Department, PDD, Army, and BRO.