Kargil, Oct 13: In a major push to boost Ladakh’s high-altitude economy and protect its pastoral livelihoods, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena chaired a landmark meeting of the Ladakh Advisory Council, outlining an ambitious roadmap to increase the population of indigenous Pashmina goats to four lakh.
The first meeting of Ladakh’s Advisory Council, focussed on water security, glacier protection, agricultural sustainability, local employment and the development of key economic sectors.
The meeting also reviewed tourism promotion, heritage conservation, sea buckthorn production, major infrastructure projects and administrative reforms, with the Lieutenant Governor calling for innovative solutions to address Ladakh’s developmental challenges and fragile ecological conditions.
Emphasising long-term water security, he highlighted ‘Project Him Sarovar’, which envisages the creation of water storage ponds to harness glacial and snowmelt runoff. He urged Council members to suggest innovative measures to strengthen climate resilience, promote tourism and generate employment opportunities for local youth.
On the Pashmina sector, LG Saxena 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 stressed the need to protect Ladakh’s globally renowned Pashmina heritage while ensuring sustainable livelihoods for Changpa herders.
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the economic potential of sea buckthorn, informing the council that Ladakh had recorded a production of 2,200 tonnes this year. A dedicated processing plant is being established in Nubra to facilitate value addition and expand market opportunities for the locally grown resource.
Calling for urgent measures to protect glaciers against the impact of global warming, LG Saxena said Ladakh’s fragile ecology required proactive interventions to strengthen climate resilience and safeguard its natural resources. He appreciated the suggestions made by council members and assured them that the administration would continue to address basic issues affecting the people of Ladakh.
He also announced that the Council would meet again soon to review progress and determine the next course of action.
The meeting was attended by CEC LAHDC Kargil Dr Mohammed Jaffer Akhoon; Ladakh MP Mohammed Hanifa Jan; president Jamiat Ul Ulama Isna Ashariya Kargil Sheikh Nazir Mehdi; Syed Ahmad Razvi of Anjuman-e-Sahib-Zaman Kargil; former IAS officer C Phuntsog and former IFS officer Tsewang Namgyal.
Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, Director General of Police Anand Jain and other senior officers of the UT administration were also present. Advisory Council members Sunil Sethi and Jai Prakash Tomar, representing specialised fields, participated virtually.
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