Hon’ble Lt Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) chairs meeting to discuss Wildlife Protected Areas in Leh district

Leh, Jan 16, 2024: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) chaired a meeting to discuss the Wildlife Protected Areas in Leh district, at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson highlighted the issues faced by the people of Nubra and Changthang as they fall under the Karakoram and Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuaries. A presentation on the process of declaration as per Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the various sections, the confusion over boundaries, different versions due to geo-coordinates, geographical reference, zonation, sketched map and the new boundary proposed by the Wildlife Department, was presented to the HLG.
Chairman and Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, highlighted the classification of Nubra based on geology comprising 15,314 sq km and proposed wildlife boundary of 9,352 sq km, including Karakoram Range and Depsang plains and excluding Ladakh Range and Saltoro Range. Chairman, LAHDC Leh and Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh informed the HLG about key features of the proposal submitted by Hill Council Leh, i.e. the proposed wildlife protected area would be two times the originally notified wildlife area, the purpose of rationalisation of wildlife boundaries would be fulfilled, the absence of conflict between humans and wildlife, etc.
The HLG inquired from the Wildlife Department officials about the possible danger to wildlife and flora and fauna in Nubra in the approx. 6,000 sq km area, including Ladakh Range and Saltoro Range, which has been proposed to be excluded from the wildlife-protected area. He stated that the previously notified buffer zone was not adequate for the people of Nubra to carry out their livelihood activities. He stated that the grievances and suggestions from the stakeholders should be heard before the proposal for renotification of the Wildlife Protected area is initiated.
The HLG asked the Chairman, LAHDC Leh, to prepare a letter with all relevant points/scenarios and suggestions so that the matter could be taken forward. He also highlighted the need to revise the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the rationalisation of boundaries of Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Adv Tashi Gyalson; Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Shri Tsering Angchuk; ADGP Ladakh, Dr SD Singh Jamwal, IPS; Secretary to HLG, Shri Ravinder Kumar, IAS; Deputy Commissioner Leh, Shri Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS; Chief Wildlife Warden, Shri Sajjad Mufti, IFS and other officials were present in the meeting.