Wildlife panel approves 13 defence projects in Ladakh, Arunachal sanctuaries

Months after approving 32 defence projects on forest lands, the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved 13 projects, recommended by the Defence Ministry, for the elevation of strategic and security infrastructure.

Of these, 12 projects were approved in wildlife sanctuaries of Ladakh and one in Arunachal Pradesh.

In a recent meeting, the wildlife panel approved the use of 0.3792 hectares of forestland in the eco-sensitive zone of the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary for the construction of Pinjoli bridge in Arunachal Pradesh.

While the sanctuary is known for the movement of elephant, the Forest Department of Arunachal Pradesh cited national security behind the importance of construction.

However, the Environment Ministry has imposed a condition on the Defence Ministry that during peak elephant movement periods (between 11 pm and 5 am), night traffic would be minimised to prevent accidental collisions with jumbos.

The Defence Ministry has further sought the use of 3.7 ha of forest land from High Altitude Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary for 315 Field Workshop Company at Chushul in Ladakh.

The proposal pertains to the 315 Field Workshop Company, which was relocated from Jalipa, Barmer (Rajasthan), to the Eastern Ladakh sector in September 2024, along with the Headquarters of the 142 Infantry Brigade, and was temporarily stationed at Nimmu.

According to the minutes of the NBWL meeting, “In March 2025, the workshop was permanently moved to Chushul in the Eastern Ladakh sector. The workshop functions directly under the Headquarters 142 Infantry Brigade.”

“Besides, the units under the command of Headquarters 142 Infantry Brigade are already deployed in the vicinity of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to ensure effective command, control, and operational coordination. Therefore, it has become essential to acquire land at the proposed location for the permanent deployment of the 315 Field Workshop Company. The construction of necessary assets at the proposed site will enhance the engineering support capabilities and provide a better administrative setup, thereby boosting the overall operational readiness of the battalions deployed in the sector,” stated the minutes of the meeting.

Request for the usage of forest land from Karakoram (NubraShayok) Wildlife Sanctuary in Leh district for the establishment of border outposts has also been approved in favour of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

The proposal has been initiated to strengthen vigilance along the border areas, ensuring effective monitoring of the movement of adversaries and to prevent any intrusion or transgression across the LAC.

The Standing Committee has also approved the use of 24.2 ha of land from Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary for Formation Ammunition Storage Facility (FASF) at Tsogtsalu.

The facility will be a critical operational requirement to ensure sustained military operations in Tsogtsalu, particularly in the event that the Phobrang–Marsimik La–Hot Spring road becomes inaccessible due to extreme weather conditions or adverse actions by the adversary.

In High Altitude Cold Desert Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, a Training Node Area will also be established. “The increasing assertiveness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the region necessitates a high level of operational preparedness. In this context, the availability of dedicated training infrastructure, encompassing both indoor and outdoor facilities at Super High Altitude Areas (SHAA) — i.e., around 15,000 feet elevation — is essential to facilitate regular and realistic training for troops while maintaining their operational presence in the Area of Responsibility (AoR),” the minutes of the meeting said.

The wildlife panel also approved the project in High Altitude Cold Desert Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary for establishment of Brigade Headquarters.

The other projects in Ladakh’s wildlife sanctuaries include construction of a hume pipe culvert, Army Camp, Artillery Battery and ammunition storage facility.