Leh, 23 March (H.S.): Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today launched the Indus River Green Corridor Eco-Restoration Plantation at Spituk Pharka, an initiative aimed at restoring the ecological integrity of the Indus riverbanks and creating green buffers in the fragile desert landscape of Leh-Ladakh. This initiative is a one-of-a-kind Cold Desert River Bank Restoration Project in India.

As part of the exercise, nearly 1000 saplings of indigenous species like Oleaster, Sea buckthorn, Indian Willow, Black Poplar and White Willow were planted on the riverbank through collaborative efforts of civil administration, military, paramilitary, police, and local communities, especially Spituk Gonpa and its monastic fraternity, which gave 1 hectare of land for the plantation.

Apart from this, 1000 saplings of Cherry Blossom and Apricot were also planted along the roadside in Leh city, aimed at enhancing the green aesthetics of the city.

The event was organised by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment in collaboration with Spituk Monastery and the University of Ladakh. The initiative witnessed active participation from civil administration, defence forces, local communities and students, reflecting a model of convergence and collective action.

Describing the occasion as historic, the Lieutenant Governor stated that with the support of the local communities, this project would emerge as an instrument of resilience, stability and a global model for high-altitude river ecosystem restoration. He said that the launch of the Indus River Green Corridor in a fragile ecosystem like Ladakh represents a major step towards sustainable development. He emphasised that the initiative would not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of Leh but also help address pressing ecological challenges of Ladakh.

The LG underlined the need to recognise the deep interconnection between nature, development and culture, stating that forests and rivers in Ladakh are not merely ecological assets but integral to the region’s identity and sustainability.

Highlighting the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Lieutenant Governor spoke about India’s commitment to sustainable development and combating land degradation and desertification. He reiterated the national goal of restoring 2.6 crore hectares of degraded land by 2030 and expressed confidence that Ladakh can play a pivotal role in achieving this target.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar