Leh: The Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson in the presence of MP Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal convened a comprehensive meeting the other day with Dr Khurshid Alam, Dy Director, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, GoI to discuss the issues over the Wildlife protected areas of Changthang, Nubra & Hemis National Park in Leh district.
CEC Gyalson briefed the officials on the current status of issues over the boundaries of wildlife protected areas of Leh Ladakh.
He emphasized that the people of Ladakh have experienced significant setbacks with the notification of major human habitat areas as Wildlife Protected areas, leading to serious consequences and public outcry in recent times.
He added that this has caused hindrances in performing various public interest developmental activities in the region.
The CEC also stressed the urgent need for finding a balanced solution that considers both conservation efforts and the developmental needs of the region.
MP JTN also stressed the need for a comprehensive and people-friendly solution to the issue over the settlement of wildlife protected area boundaries in all regions.
He highlighted the Government of India’s initiatives aimed at strengthening the border regions of Ladakh, underscoring the importance of resolving this issue for the larger interest of the people of Ladakh.
Similarly, all the Executive Councillors and Councillors of Nubra, Changthang, and Sku-Markha regions shared their concerns with the representative from the Union Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change.
In his concluding remarks, the CEC stated that the SRO issued back in 1987 was not supported by any map, which led to a huge confusion in terms of the boundaries to be defined on ground. He added that there is a need for defining a corrigendum/addendum to the notification at the earliest to settle the issues without hurting the spirit of the SRO.
He hoped for a positive outcome from the Union Ministry and also from the office of LG Ladakh after this comprehensive meeting.
Earlier, Consultant Stanzin Tsepel provided officials with a comprehensive overview of the issue, highlighting its causes and impacts through a detailed presentation during the meeting.
He also shared possible proposals from the Hill Council, Leh, aimed at settling the issues of the wildlife protected area boundaries while considering the interests of all stakeholders.
The CEC further extended his gratitude on behalf of LAHDC Leh to the Minister of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, Govt. of India, Bhupendra Yadav, and the LG Ladakh, Retd. Brig. Dr. B.D. Mishra, for their kind intervention and action in this matter to settle the long-pending issues.
Dy Chairman, Tsering Angchuk; Executive Councillor for RDD, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee; Executive Councillor for Minority Affairs, Ghulam Mehdi; Addl. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Ladakh, B.M Sharma; DC/CEO LAHDC Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve; Councillors of Nubra, Changthang, and Sku Markha, Wildlife Warden Leh, Additional District Magistrate Leh, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Leh, and all the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of Nubra and Changthang, and the concerned Consultant/Expert engaged by LAHDC Leh were in attendance during the meeting.
