Ladakh approves clean air action plan, launches online monitoring system
The Ladakh Administration has approved the State Action Plan on Clean Air through a steering committee, alongside the launch of the Online Consent Management & Monitoring System (OCMMS) by the Ladakh Pollution Control Committee (LPCC), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
In addition, a pictorial guide on bio-medical waste segregation and disposal, in line with the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, was unveiled to encourage effective waste management practices.
In a key meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Leh, Pawan Kotwal, Adviser to Ladakh and Chairman of the Steering Committee on the State Action Plan on Clean Air, granted approval to the action plan. This comprehensive plan, developed by the Air Quality Monitoring Committee (AQMC), was finalised after extensive discussions with the Steering Committee.
Kotwal commended Ladakh’s relatively better air quality compared to other regions of the country. He instructed the LPCC to install two digital display boards in Leh and Kargil at prominent locations such as the main bazaars and airports, to highlight Ladakh as a ‘clean air region’. He also emphasised the importance of procuring electric and hydrogen buses for public transportation to reduce pollution and improve transit options.
Furthermore, Kotwal directed the timely disposal of phased-out diesel generator (DG) sets and recommended retrofitting equipment for diesel machinery and vehicles, in accordance with existing guidelines, to reduce carbon emissions. He also called for the Transport Department to formulate a policy setting vehicle age limits for private and commercial vehicles, along with a vehicle scrapping policy tailored to the region’s needs. Additionally, he urged departments concerned to expedite approvals for solid waste management projects in Leh and Kargil.
Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Member Secretary of the LPCC, presented an overview of the action plan and shared air pollution data for Leh and Kargil, showing consistent particulate matter (PM-10 and PM-2.5) levels from 2019 to November 2024.
Following the meeting, Kotwal officially launched the OCMMS, a platform designed to simplify the process for stakeholders across both public and private sectors to obtain pollution-related consents and authorisations electronically, eliminating paperwork.
Additionally, the Advisor unveiled the LPCC’s pictorial guide on bio-medical waste segregation and disposal, aimed at raising awareness and ensuring compliance with the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, while promoting sustainable waste disposal practices.
The meeting and launch event were attended by Vasanthakumar, Commissioner/ Secretary of Forest, Ecology & Environment; Bhupesh Chaudhary, Secretary of Transport; Santosh Sukhdeve, Deputy Commissioner Leh; Mandeep Mittal, Regional Director LPCC; Tsewang Paljor, Chief Engineer PDD, and other senior officials. Sanjeev Khirwar, Principal Secretary of Industries & Commerce, and Srikant Suse, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, participated via video conferencing.
