Leh, Jan 29: Administration in the Union Territory of Ladakh has achieved a significant milestone with the approval of the State Action Plan (SAP) on clean air. The UT also saw the launch of the Online Consent Management and Monitoring System (OCMMS) by the Ladakh Pollution Control Committee (LPCC), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
Additionally, a Pictorial Guide on Bio-medical Waste Segregation and Disposal, aligned with the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, was unveiled to promote effective waste management practices.
In a key meeting held at the Civil Secretariat in Leh on Tuesday, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Advisor to UT Ladakh and Chairman of the State Action Plan on Clean Air, granted approval to the State Action Plan on Clean Air. This comprehensive plan, prepared by the Air Quality Monitoring Committee (AQMC), was finalised after detailed discussions with the Steering Committee.
Dr. Kotwal commended the relatively better air quality in Ladakh compared to other parts of the country. He directed the LPCC to install two prominent digital display boards in Leh and Kargil districts at locations such as the main bazaars and airports to showcase Ladakh as a “clean air region.” Additionally, he emphasised the need for rigorous efforts to procure electric buses and hydrogen buses for public transportation to reduce pollution and provide convenient transit options.
Dr. Kotwal also issued directives for the timely disposal of phased-out diesel generator (DG) sets and the adoption of retrofitting equipment for diesel machinery and vehicles, in line with existing guidelines, to minimize carbon emissions. He instructed the Transport Department to develop a policy for setting vehicle age limits for both private and commercial vehicles, along with a vehicle scrapping policy tailored to the unique requirements of the region. Furthermore, he urged the concerned departments to expedite necessary approvals for solid waste management initiatives in Leh and Kargil.
Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Member Secretary of the LPCC, presented a detailed overview of the action plan during the meeting. He shared air pollution analysis data for Leh and Kargil, which included average particulate matter (PM-10 and PM-2.5) levels from 2019 to November 2024. The data indicated that particulate matter levels have remained consistent over this period.
Following the meeting, Dr. Kotwal officially launched the Online Consent Management & Monitoring System (OCMMS). This new platform will serve as a single-window system for stakeholders across public and private sectors, enabling them to obtain pollution-related consents and authorizations seamlessly without paperwork.
The Advisor also unveiled the Pictorial Guide on Bio-medical Waste Segregation and Disposal, developed by the LPCC. This guide aims to raise awareness about proper bio-medical waste management, ensuring compliance with the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, and fostering sustainable waste disposal practices.
The meeting and launch event was attended by Dr. Vasanthakumar, Commissioner/Secretary of Forest, Ecology and Environment; Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests/Member Secretary LPCC; Bhupesh Chaudhary, Secretary of Transport; Santosh Sukhdeve, Deputy Commissioner Leh; Mandeep Mittal, Regional Director LPCC; Tsewang Paljor, Chief Engineer PDD, and other senior officials. Sanjeev Khirwar, Principal Secretary of Industries and Commerce and Srikant Suse, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, also participated via video conferencing.
