32 defence projects get wildlife panel’s nod

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has given clearances to 32 defence projects inside sanctuaries located in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

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These include aviation projects, road linkages, missile facilities and training centers.

Of these, 26 are located in Ladakh’s ecologically fragile Karakoram and Changthang wildlife sanctuaries. A total of 47.6 hectares of the Nubra-Shayok Wildlife Sanctuary will be used by the Defence Ministry for the construction of aviation infrastructure, as part of a forward aviation base at Shyok, in Leh district. Another 4.6 hectares of the sanctuary will be utilised for the establishment of an engineer regiment at Skampuk.

In the Nubra-Shayok Wildlife Sanctuary, 25.1 hectares will be given for creation of technical infrastructure for housing troops and equipment of short range surface to air missiles.

The NBWL also passed a proposal for using 40.468 hectares in Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in Ladakh for the establishment of an Army regiment.

The wildlife panel has also cleared construction of the Arunachal Frontier Highway, which will pass through the core zone of the Namdapha Tiger Reserve. The project will divert 310 hectares of forest from the tiger reserve and lead to the felling of 1.5 lakh trees.

However, the Wildlife Institute of India will undertake a site specific study and recommend mitigation measures to the Defence Ministry so that the impact of these projects on the wildlife could be minimised.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the standing committee cleared two major proposals by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) within the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary.

Another 0.79 hectares of Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary will be required for the construction of road and temporary Hume Pipe Bridge on the Indus river.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that a meeting may be organised with the Ministry of Defence for the conservation of snow leopards, Chiru and Great Indian Bustard, and to curb illegal trade of wildlife.

It was also discussed that the Army officials in Ladakh may be appointed as Honorary Wildlife Wardens.

A 10.26-km road link between Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) to the Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) Hut, where senior Indian and Chinese Army officers meet to discuss border issues, was also approved by the panel.

Other critical projects which were accorded approval include those for housing troops of artillery regiment and a field hospital, housing troops for reconnaissance and observation flight and holding helicopters.