Srinagar: The Centre on Wednesday told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that Ladakh’s climate challenges are already being addressed through multiple ground-level projects, training programmes, and research initiatives, pushing back against a scientific article that triggered a suo motu environmental case.
Filing a counter-affidavit in Original Application No. 618/2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) dismissed the triggering article – titled “Transforming food, land and water systems to combat climate crisis in Ladakh India” – as a “meeting report” and a “generic opinion of the organisers” rather than an authoritative assessment of government failure.
The affidavit, sworn by Dr. Susan George K., Scientist ‘E’ at MoEF&CC, proceeded to list several ongoing Ladakh-specific interventions.
80 scholars trained at Machoi Glacier, Drass.
Under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE), implemented by the Department of Science and Technology, the affidavit stated that State Climate Change Centres (SCCCs) have been established in Himalayan States and Union Territories including Ladakh. These centres work on disaster risk reduction, Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk assessment, Himalayan ecosystem dynamics, hydrology, and water resource management.
The affidavit specifically noted that NMSHE promotes training – 80 scholars at Machoi Glacier, Drass” – and catalyses research using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), remote sensing, and climate analytics for resilience and sustainable livelihoods in the region
The ministry highlighted the work of its autonomous body, the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE), which has a Ladakh Regional Centre. While clarifying that no GBPNIHE faculty or researcher is an author or co-author of the article that triggered the case, the affidavit noted that the institute’s Ladakh centre participated in the relevant workshop and presented three specific interventions.
The affidavit stated that Ladakh’s Changthan region is dominated by grassland which stores carbon and provides ample ecosystem services. GBPNIHE has initiated a research project on “Carbon Budget and Eco-hydrological Dynamics of Selected Himalayan High-altitude Grasslands and Their Carrying Capacity,” funded by the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) under MoEF&CC. The project will help identify total carbon storage in these grasslands and their dynamics.
In Ladakh, GBPNIHE is working on a “sustainable hydroponic cultivation system that utilizes treated wastewater from Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants.” The affidavit specified that a gravity-driven irrigation system delivers nutrient-rich solutions, enabling eco-friendly and energy-efficient crop cultivation while addressing wastewater management challenges. The system may be up-scaled and adopted by locals for vegetable production in Ladakh’s harsh climate. A national patent has been granted for the system. Additionally, one medicinal plant and one vegetable production protocol have been finalized and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Glacier monitoring since 2023: With NMHS support, GBPNIHE has been implementing a project titled ‘Assessment of glacier-climate functional relationships across the Indian Himalayan region through long-term network observations’ since 2023. The project aims at assessing glacial dynamics, changes in glacial morphometry and mass balance using space-based resources and field measurements.
The affidavit informed the tribunal of specific research projects being undertaken in Ladakh by various institutions. These include: “Reconstruction of Late Quaternary climate change records from lakes in Trans-Himalayan Ladakh” – hosted by the University of Ladakh.
Development of climate-resilient and sustainable agri-based systems for better food, feed, nutritional and livelihood security in cold arid region of Ladakh” – hosted by the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana.
The affidavit also provided historical context, stating that prior to the reorganization under the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, climate-related issues and priorities for the Ladakh region were incorporated in the Jammu & Kashmir State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).
The affidavit concluded its Ladakh-specific submissions by stating that the answering respondent “remains committed to continuing efforts for sustainable environmental management and climate resilience in Ladakh and the broader Himalayan ecosystem.” The ministry prayed that the tribunal take the affidavit on record. The NGT is expected to hear the matter further in due course.
