JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday chaired the 6th meeting of the Wildlife Board for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at Lok Bhavan, focusing on conservation priorities and development projects requiring wildlife clearance.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana; MLAs Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal and Mian Mehar Ali; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Principal Secretary to the LG Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Commissioner Secretary Forest, Ecology & Environment Sheetal Nanda; senior forest and wildlife officials, security representatives, conservationists, environmentalists, Army representatives and NGOs.
The Board accorded wildlife clearance to several important projects and recommended some proposals to the National Board for Wildlife for final approval. These included projects related to 4G saturation, Jal Jeevan Mission, re-alignment of transmission lines, establishment of border security posts, development of horticulture nurseries and installation of avalanche warning systems.
Members were briefed on ongoing conservation and habitat improvement initiatives, including measures to mitigate human–wildlife conflict, establishment of rescue centres and wetland habitat restoration works.
Emphasising the need for balanced development, the Lieutenant Governor called for prioritising sustainable biodiversity management and conservation of wildlife habitats. He stressed enhanced outreach, particularly among school children, for major eco-tourism projects such as Jambu Zoo, Hokersar and Gharana wetlands, and directed that public transport connectivity be provided to promote eco-tourism.
The Board was also informed about the operationalisation of the Hangul Breeding Centre at Tral and noted with satisfaction the steady rise in Hangul population from 127 in 2008 to 323 as per the 2025 census.
Issues related to crop damage caused by wild boar, blue bull and monkeys were discussed, with the Board exploring possibilities for compensating farmers for wildlife-related losses.
Documentaries on restoration works at Hokersar and Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserves and the Hangul Breeding Centre were screened during the meeting. The Board also released several departmental publications, including the Wildlife Calendar 2026, a coffee-table book on J&K wildlife, The Bounty of Pir Panjal, and a report documenting the first-ever discovery of a hedgehog species in Jammu and Kashmir.
