LG Saxena urges climate solutions, sustainable livelihoods; targets Pashmina goat population of 4 lakh by next year

Water security, Pashmina, tourism top agenda at first Ladakh Advisory Council Meeting

LEH: Water security, agricultural sustainability, local employment generation and tourism promotion figured prominently as Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena chaired the first meeting of the Advisory Council of the Union Territory of Ladakh on Tuesday, bringing key developmental priorities and ecological challenges into focus.

The meeting deliberated on a wide range of issues concerning Ladakh’s development, including heritage conservation, Pashmina promotion, sea buckthorn cultivation and processing, major infrastructure projects and administrative reforms. The Council also discussed the need for innovative interventions to address the region’s environmental vulnerabilities and expand livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Emphasising the importance of long-term water security in the cold desert region, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted Project Him Sarovar, which envisages the construction of water storage ponds to harness glacial and snowmelt runoff. He urged Council members to propose innovative and practical measures to strengthen climate resilience, promote tourism and create new employment opportunities.

Glacier protection also emerged as a key concern, with Saxena stressing the need for proactive measures to safeguard Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem against the challenges posed by global warming. He underlined the importance of collective action to protect glaciers and secure the region’s environmental future.

Discussing the Pashmina sector, the LG said the Administration had extended a 25 per cent subsidy to Pashmina wool growers and was targeting an increase in the Pashmina goat population to four lakh by next year. He emphasised that strengthening the sector was essential to protecting Ladakh’s traditional heritage, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for Changpa herders and enhancing the region’s position in the premium Pashmina market.

The Council also took up the potential of sea buckthorn, a resource with significant scope for value addition and market expansion. Saxena said Ladakh had recorded production of 2,200 tonnes of sea buckthorn this year, while a dedicated processing plant was being established in Nubra to improve processing capacity and create wider market opportunities. He also referred to the Sea Buckthorn Conclave organised earlier this year as part of efforts to promote the sector.

The discussions further covered agricultural sustainability, tourism development, heritage conservation, infrastructure expansion and administrative reforms, with an emphasis on identifying measures that could address local needs while supporting Ladakh’s long-term development.

Appreciating the suggestions offered by Council members, the Lieutenant Governor assured them that the Administration would continue to address basic issues affecting the people of Ladakh. He also announced that the Advisory Council would meet again soon to review progress and determine the next course of action.

The meeting was attended by Dr Mohammed Jaffer Akhon, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil; Ladakh MP Mohammed Hanifa Jhaan; Sheikh Nazir Mehdi, President of Jamiat Ul Ulama Isna Ashariya, Kargil; Syed Ahmad Razvi, representative of Anjuman-e-Sahib-Zaman, Kargil; former IAS officer C. Phuntsog; former IFS officer Tsewang Namgyal; and senior UT Administration officials, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police. Advisory Council members Sunil Sethi and Jai Prakash Tomar, representing specialised fields, participated virtually.