Leh, October 17: Major General Praveen Chhabra, General Officer Commanding, 72 Sub Area, today called on the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, at the LG Secretariat, Leh.
During the interaction, Major General Chhabra briefed the Lt Governor on the Indian Army’s initiatives to address solid and liquid waste management in collaboration with the Civil Administration. He shared details of ongoing efforts to strengthen waste segregation, treatment, and disposal systems, and expressed the Army’s willingness to work with the UT Administration on developing sustainable, climate-appropriate solutions for Ladakh.
The Major General also conveyed the Army’s interest in partnering with the Civil Administration to provide skill training for ex-servicemen, enabling them to contribute to tourism-linked livelihoods such as mountaineering guides and homestay operators in Ladakh’s remote regions.
The Lt Governor emphasised the importance of a coordinated and sustained approach between the Civil Administration and the Indian Army to effectively tackle Ladakh’s environmental challenges — particularly solid and liquid waste management and the rising population of stray and feral dogs.
Underscoring the need to preserve Ladakh’s fragile ecology, Shri Gupta called for viable, year-round solutions for wastewater and faecal sludge treatment, noting that untreated waste threatens groundwater reserves, the Indus River, and public health, while also impacting tourism.
Commending the people of Ladakh for their environmental awareness and efforts to minimise plastic use, the Lt Governor said that joint efforts between the Administration and the Army could make Leh a model “Green City.” He highlighted the potential to engage ex-servicemen and local youth in wildlife protection, tourism management, and renewable energy sectors, and suggested that skill development programmes in homestays, mountaineering, and solar energy could create meaningful livelihood opportunities.
The Lt Governor appreciated the proactive environmental initiatives of the Indian Army and reiterated the Administration’s commitment to work closely with defence establishments for sustainable development in Ladakh. He expressed confidence that such collaborations would not only strengthen environmental conservation but also expand livelihood options, contributing to a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Ladakh.
Meanwhile, Colonel Prashant Singh Thakur, Commanding Officer, 127 Light Air Defence Regiment, along with fellow officers, also called on the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor at the LG Secretariat, Leh.
The Lt Governor commended the dedication and service of the Army personnel in safeguarding the nation’s borders and maintaining peace in the region. He extended his best wishes to the officers for continued success in all their future endeavours.
