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.
The meeting was attended by Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs Departments; Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal and Mian Mehar Ali, Members of Legislative Assembly; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology & Environment; Suresh Kumar Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF; Sarvesh Rai, PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K; Sujit Kumar, IGP Security; eminent conservationists, ecologists, environmentalists, representatives of the Army and NGOs dealing with wildlife, and other board members.
The Board, which met under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, accorded wildlife clearance to several projects and recommended certain 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, setting up of border security posts, development of horticulture nurseries and installation of avalanche warning systems.
The Board was briefed on various conservation and habitat improvement activities undertaken by the department, including measures to address human-wildlife conflict, establishment of rescue centres and wetland habitat restoration works.
The Lieutenant Governor called for prioritising sustainable management of biodiversity and conservation of wildlife habitats. He emphasised promotional activities, particularly among school children, for major projects such as Jambu Zoo, Hokersar and Gharana wetlands, and also stressed the need to provide public transport connectivity to promote eco-tourism.
The department’s efforts in operationalising the Hangul Breeding Centre at Tral were also presented. The Board noted with satisfaction the increase in the Hangul population from 127 in 2008 to 323 as per the 2025 census.
The meeting also discussed damage to agricultural crops caused by wild boar, blue bull and monkeys. The Board explored the possibility of compensating farmers for losses caused by wild animals.
Documentaries showcasing restoration works at Hokersar and Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserves and the operationalisation of the Hangul Breeding Centre were screened during the meeting.
Various departmental publications were also released, including the Wildlife Calendar 2026; a coffee table book titled Wildlife of J&K – A Journey Through Protected Wilderness; a book titled The Bounty of Pir Panjal – A Journey Through Its Flora and Fauna; and a report on the first-ever discovery of a hedgehog in Jammu and Kashmir.