A recent decision has significant implications for three protected areas, where local communities have been advocating for acknowledgment of their longstanding settlements and traditional rights. These communities are seeking clarity regarding the boundaries of their lands, which has been a contentious issue for some time.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has rejected a report on the proposed boundaries of three protected areas, citing concerns over the legal process, ground mapping and national security. He has directed officials to settle the rights and claims of local communities in these areas within two months. The statutory process under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for settling the rights of individuals and communities in proposed protected areas, had not been undertaken by the sub-committee, according to the LG’s office.
Saxena said the boundary delineation had instead been carried out through a “table-top exercise”, without following the legal framework prescribed under the Act. The administration said the exercise was inconsistent with the law, inequitable to affected communities and could face legal challenges.
Concerns Over Protected-Area Boundaries in Jammu and Kashmir
Recent discussions have highlighted discrepancies in the protected-area boundaries established by the Jammu and Kashmir government in 1987. The Board noted that the preliminary notification from that time did not accurately reflect the actual boundaries on the ground.
Local communities argue that human settlements in these regions have existed for generations and should be excluded from the protected areas. The administration contends that these communities were considered in the earlier sub-committee’s assessments.
In light of these issues, Saxena has called on residents to submit their claims and land titles, including documentation of traditional rights related to pasture lands.
