Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, May 24: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) today chaired the meeting of the 8th State Board of Wildlife of UT Ladakh, here at Raj Niwas.
As per a statement, several points were discussed during the meeting, including clearance for various developmental projects in Ladakh from the State Board of Wildlife of UT Ladakh.
There were detailed discussions on the need for comprehensive planning on linear infrastructure activities as per instructions issued by the Government of India, the need for deviating roads from grazing lands and wetlands on the Hanle-Chumur route in the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary to protect the wildlife, the need to rationalise the boundaries of Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and Hemis National Park at the earliest, etc.
The Board members discussed various projects, including the construction of the Korzok-Nurbo-Sumdo road, Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok road, Mahe-Nidder-Rongo road, Lukung-Chartse road, and Chumathang-Chushul road among other projects.
Post-detailed discussion, the Board gave approval to all these projects keeping in mind their importance for national security and also for the ease and convenience of the people living in both these Wildlife Sanctuaries and Hemis National Park.
Renowned wildlife expert, Dr MK Ranjitsinh highlighted the need to control feral dogs in wildlife areas and requested the Indian Army to control the dumping of food waste to avoid feral dogs and bears in Ladakh.
He stated that a lot of problems arising due to the inclusion of a large number of areas of Ladakh in Karakoram/ Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and Hemis National Park would be solved after the completion of the exercise of the process of rationalisation of wildlife boundaries by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
The LG Ladakh emphasised the need for a different road alignment from the wildlife areas and stated that strict punitive actions will be taken against culprits engaging in poaching activities.
He also inquired about the delay in putting up sign boards, barricades/fences on the Hanley-Chumur route to protect the wetlands and grazing ground and instructed the concerned officials to do it at the earliest.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson; Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee; Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Mohsin Ali; Principal Secretaries, Dr Pawan Kotwal, Sanjeev Khirwar; ADGP Ladakh Police, Satish Khandare; PCCF Jigmet Takpa; Wildlife expert Dr MK Ranjitsinh among others attended the meeting.