Leh/Jammu

Union Home Minister Amit Shah stressed the need for a focused approach on sustainable development in Ladakh, with plantation and water security identified as key pillars for the region’s overall progress, Ladakh LG VK Saxena said on Saturday.

The LG apprised him of the ongoing work to create 50 water bodies in different villages under Project Him Sarovar and a recent plantation drive.

"While emphasising the spiritual nature of his visit to Leh on the pious occasion of Buddh Purnima, he urged for a focussed approach on sustainable development. Large-scale plantation and water security were identified by HM as key pillars for overall development of Ladakh," Saxena said on X while sharing a post by the home minister.

Senior Ladakh leader Thupstan Chewang underscored the need to tap water from the Shyok river for drinking water and irrigation purposes.

Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk said only around one per cent of glacial melt in Ladakh is currently utilised, while the rest goes waste, and stressed the need for innovative methods to conserve it, the LG said.

Officials said that the Union Territory administration has already launched a large-scale drive to meet the twin objectives of plantation and water conservation to ensure climate-resilient development in Ladakh.

"I am pleased to share that in the last 40 days, more than 4500 trees of native species have already been planted across Leh and Kargil to promote environmental sustainability," the LG said.

Nearly 500 saplings of species such as bamboo, amaltas, gulmohar, jacaranda, bougainvillea, banyan, peepal and imli have also been planted in Leh on an experimental basis, he said.

READ MORE: Naghma Sahar showed the calmer, sensitive side of Television news anchoring

As directed by Shah, the plantation exercise and water conservation efforts will be further intensified across the region, with authorities aiming to create at least 100 large water bodies over the next year.

Officials said the long-term goal is to increase forest cover in Ladakh from less than one per cent at present to at least five per cent over the next two years.