Wildlife body clears 32 defence infra proposals
NEW DELHI: National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), an apex body that makes decisions on matters relating to wildlife conservation and habitat protection, has approved 32 defence infrastructure proposals involving the diversion of land from protected areas and eco-sensitive zones across Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
The projects include those for construction of strategic roads, helipads, ammunition depots, and housing for troops and artillery regiments. The bulk of the projects along the China border are to be executed in Ladakh's ecologically fragile Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) and Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife sanctuaries.
One of the most critical projects that got approval is a 10.26-km road link between Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and the Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) Hut.
This is the place where Indian and Chinese army officers meet to discuss border issues.
All the approvals were granted by the board's standing committee, chaired by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav, that met on June 26. The projects had been recommended subject to conditions such as preparation and enforcement of mitigation measures, restrictions on timing and area of operations, waste disposal plans and regular compliance reporting.
Besides defence infrastructure projects in Ladakh, the committee cleared a proposal to divert 310 hectares of forest land from the core area of Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh for construction of the Arunachal Frontier Highway, and projects in Gujarat for the construction of a Border Out Post (BOP) and a helipad.
For Ladakh, the committee cleared over two dozen proposals. These include 33.4 hectares (ha) for an artillery regiment and field hospital at Bogdang; 47.6 ha for a forward aviation base at Shyok; 25.1 ha for housing Short Range Surface to Air Missile systems; 31 ha for an ammunition storage facility at Gapshan; and 40.47 ha for an Army regiment at Nidder.
The proposal for setting up of a Field Ammunition Storage Facility (FASF) at Hanle and another for reconnaissance and stationing of helicopters at Partapur were also cleared with standard conditions.
In Sikkim, the committee approved the use of 0.29 ha of forest land from Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary for operating a hot mix plant under BRO's Project Swastik in Gangtok district.
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