NEW DELHI: A panel of the environment ministry on Monday gave clearance to 17 defence-linked proposals — primarily located in Ladakh and Sikkim — related to strategic infrastructure in high-altitude areas near the China border.The decision was taken in a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife’s (NBWL) standing committee, chaired by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav. The board is a central panel which takes decisions on clearing projects in areas near/around wildlife protected zones, while ensuring that development activities in and around protected areas are undertaken in a balanced and sustainable manner.Yadav separately also attended an inter-ministerial meeting with his cabinet colleagues Nitin Gadkari, M L Khattar and G Kishan Reddy on issues of convergence for recovery of critical minerals from e-waste.“We also reviewed the handling of electronic waste in cities and the reuse of inert material from legacy dumpsites for national highways,” Yadav posted on X.On green clearance issues involving recommended defence-related proposals in Ladakh and Sikkim, the ministry said these projects were recommended in view of “national security and strategic requirements”, while ensuring strict adherence to wildlife mitigation measures and environmental safeguards, in line with applicable statutory provisions. Most of the recommended projects during the meeting include establishing new border outposts, border roads, a brigade headquarters, ammunition storage and training facilities, and bridge and culvert works.During the meeting, the board’s standing committee considered 70 proposals related to public utility services and infrastructure development located in and around protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and eco-sensitive zones.“The proposals were deliberated with due regard to ecological sensitivity, statutory requirements and the need to ensure essential services for local communities,” said the ministry.Important public utility proposals considered by the committee involve drinking water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), primary and community health centres, widening of roads, 4G mobile towers and transmission lines.Besides, a medium irrigation project in Madhya Pradesh providing drinking and irrigation water facility in the Bundelkhand region was also discussed.
