Leh, May 02: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to Leh assured the key political leaders that the Centre is working hard to ensure equitable development of the region.
LG Saxena, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that Amit Shah chaired a meeting with key political leaders of Ladakh on April 30, stressing sustainable development and environmental resilience in the region.
According to Saxena, the Home Minister, while highlighting the spiritual significance of his visit to Leh on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, called for a focused approach towards large-scale plantation and strengthening water security as core pillars of Ladakh’s development.
The Lieutenant Governor said the ongoing efforts under Project Him Sarovar, including the creation of 50 water bodies across villages, along with recent plantation drives, were shared with the Home Minister, who appreciated the initiatives as positive steps.
During the meeting, Thupstan Chewang emphasized the need to harness water from the Shyok river for drinking and irrigation purposes, while Sonam Wangchuk pointed out that only a fraction of glacial melt in Ladakh is currently being utilized, underscoring the need for innovative conservation measures.
Saxena said the UT administration has launched a massive programme to boost plantation and water conservation, aiming to ensure climate-resilient development in Ladakh.
He said that over 4,500 native trees have been planted across Leh and Kargil in the past 40 days.
Additionally, around 500 saplings, including Bamboo, Amaltas, Gulmohar, Jacaranda, Bougainvillea, Bargad, Pipal and Imli, have been planted in Leh on an experimental basis.
He stated that, as directed by the Home Minister, these efforts will be intensified, with a target to create at least 100 large water bodies in the next year and increase forest cover in Ladakh from less than 1 percent to 5 percent within two years. (KNO)
