Leh, Mar 24: Describing the initiative as a “Civilisational Project” rooted in ecological restoration, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday launched the Indus River Green Corridor Eco-Restoration Plantation at Spituk Pharka in Leh, calling for sustained community participation to revive the fragile river ecosystem.
The launch, coinciding with the International Day of Forests, marks the beginning of a structured intervention aimed at restoring the ecological integrity of the Indus riverbanks while developing green buffers across the cold desert landscape. The project is being positioned as a rare riverbank restoration effort in a high-altitude arid environment.
As part of the exercise, nearly 1,000 saplings of indigenous species—including Oleaster, Sea buckthorn, Indian Willow, Black Poplar and White Willow—were planted across one hectare of riverbank land provided by Spituk Monastery. The plantation was carried out through the collaborative efforts of civil administration, defence forces, paramilitary units, police, and local communities, particularly the monastic fraternity.
In a parallel effort to expand urban greenery, an additional 1,000 saplings of Cherry Blossom and Apricot were planted along major roads in Leh town to enhance the city’s green cover and visual landscape.
The plantation drive was organised by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment in collaboration with the University of Ladakh and Spituk Monastery. It witnessed participation from civil administration, defence personnel, local communities and students, reflecting a coordinated approach to ecological restoration.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor underlined the interdependence of nature, development and culture in Ladakh, observing that rivers and forests form an integral part of the region’s identity and long-term sustainability. He noted that the initiative seeks not only to improve the visual landscape but also to respond to environmental challenges specific to the region.
Referring to national environmental commitments under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he reiterated India’s goal of restoring 2.6 crore hectares of degraded land by 2030 and expressed confidence that Ladakh would contribute to this target.
Highlighting concerns over Ladakh’s forest cover—currently below one per cent—the Lieutenant Governor set a target of increasing it to five per cent within two years. He outlined the ecological advantages of plantation, including reduction in wind velocity through shelter belts, prevention of soil erosion along riverbanks, improvement in biodiversity, stabilisation of micro-climatic conditions, and enhancement of oxygen levels.
He also stressed the adoption of efficient irrigation systems, such as gravity-based solar submersible strip irrigation and drip irrigation, to ensure optimal utilisation of limited water resources in the region.
Acknowledging the contribution of Spituk Monastery in providing land for the project, he described it as an example of collaborative governance. Drawing on his experience with similar initiatives in Delhi and Udaipur, he noted that sustained efforts had yielded tangible outcomes despite initial scepticism.
The Lieutenant Governor further called for expansion of plantation activities across Ladakh and urged the Forest Department to identify suitable land parcels for large-scale greening efforts. He also called for wider participation in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign.
Emphasising the role of youth, he urged them to take a proactive role in environmental conservation and adopt innovative practices to support sustainability initiatives. He also reiterated his vision of transforming Ladakh into a leading global destination by leveraging its natural and ecological assets.
On the occasion, a special postal cover was released, and individuals and organisations contributing to environmental conservation were felicitated. Among those recognised were representatives of “Go Green, Go Organic”, along with Range Officer Stanzin Gelek and Namgyal. Winners of a hackathon were also honoured.
The event was attended by Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Mohd Jaffer Akhoon; Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra; GOC 14 Corps Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla; DGP Ladakh Mukesh Singh; District Principal and Sessions Judge Spalzes Angmo; senior officials of the Indian Army, ITBP and Border Roads Organisation; former MP Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Abbot of Spituk Monastery Ven. Lobzang Angchuk; and representatives of religious, political and civil society organisations, besides a large number of students.
