Strategic Defence Boost: 12 Key Projects Get Wildlife Board Nod
In a significant move to strengthen India's border infrastructure, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has recommended approval for 12 crucial defence projects in the strategically important Ladakh region. The approvals, granted during the panel's October 29 meeting, come amid ongoing tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the committee cleared multiple projects that the Defence Ministry described as essential for maintaining "high level of operational preparedness" in response to what it termed the "increasing assertiveness of People's Liberation Army (PLA)."
Key Projects Approved Across Wildlife Sanctuaries
The approved projects span across the ecologically sensitive Changthang Cold Desert Sanctuary and Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary. Among the significant clearances are:
A training node at Tara that will provide dedicated infrastructure for troops operating at super high altitude areas around 15,000 feet elevation. The Defence Ministry emphasized that this facility is crucial for maintaining realistic training while troops maintain their operational presence.
Two formation ammunition storage facilities (FASF) - one at Tsogtsalu in Changthang sanctuary requiring 24.2 hectares and another in Karakoram sanctuary needing 47.1 hectares of sanctuary land.
A brigade headquarters at Chushul, Leh that will utilize 40 hectares of Changthang sanctuary land. The ministry stated this deployment is essential for better command and control of units already deployed along the LAC.
Border outposts of Indo-Tibetan Border Police at Qazi Langar near Depsang, along with an artillery battery in Leh and additional military infrastructure.
Infrastructure Push Post-Galwan Clash
The latest approvals continue India's accelerated infrastructure development along the LAC following the 2020 Galwan clash that claimed the lives of 20 Indian Army personnel. This represents part of a broader strategic push to enhance operational readiness and speed up troop mobilization in the sensitive border regions.
In addition to the Ladakh projects, the committee also approved construction of an Army camp in Leh and gave the green light for a 158-meter span permanent Pinjoli bridge on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh's Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.
Environmental Considerations and Mitigation
The project approvals come with environmental concerns, given the fragile ecosystems of the cold desert sanctuaries. The Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is home to endangered species including Tibetan wolf, wild yak, bharal, snow leopard, and brown bear, while the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary hosts Tibetan antelope, wild yak, and leopards.
The Union Environment Ministry emphasized that "utmost caution must be exercised to minimize ecological impacts" in the fragile cold desert ecosystem. While forest officials recommended the training node proposal, they noted that prescribed conditions were general and no specific wildlife mitigation plan was provided.
This development underscores the continuing focus on border infrastructure development while balancing environmental conservation needs in ecologically sensitive border areas.
