Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has rejected a report on the proposed boundaries of three protected areas, citing legal and security concerns. The decision affects Hemis National Park, the High Altitude Cold Desert (Changthang) Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Karakoram (Nubra-Shyok) Wildlife Sanctuary. Saxena directed officials to settle the rights and claims of local communities in these areas within two months.

The State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), which met under Saxena's chairmanship, flagged discrepancies in the sub-committee report on boundary delineation. According to the LG's office, the statutory process under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, was not followed, and the boundary exercise was conducted as a 'table-top exercise' without ground mapping. The administration stated this approach was inconsistent with the law and could face legal challenges.

Local communities have maintained that settlements and human habitations have existed in these areas for a long time and should fall outside the protected-area boundaries. The administration said these areas had been included in the earlier sub-committee's exercise. Saxena urged residents to come forward with their claims and land titles, including evidence of traditional rights and claims relating to pasture lands.

The boundary issue also has a national-security dimension. The Board observed that several areas included in the sub-committee report are of strategic importance and relate to national security. It noted that mandatory defence considerations had not been duly factored into the report. Saxena also pointed out that the international boundaries shown in Survey of India maps had not been used as a reference while determining the limits of the protected areas. The Board said this was essential for determining the boundaries of any protected area.

This issue aside, the SBWL also ratified 23 projects at Friday's meeting and forwarded them to the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife for clearance. The projects include power transmission infrastructure in strategically important border areas, defence infrastructure, and other essential projects in the Karakoram and Changthang regions.

The issue remains unresolved, with the administration directing officials to complete the proceedings within two months. The legal and security concerns raised by Saxena highlight the complexity of balancing environmental protection, community rights, and national interests in the region.