LG Vinai Kumar Saxena Launches Landmark “Indus River Green Corridor” to Restore Ladakh’s Ecology

LEH, LADAKH — March 23, 2026 — In a historic move to combat desertification and bolster environmental resilience, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena officially inaugurated the Indus River Green Corridor Initiative today on the banks of the Indus River in Leh.

The ambitious project commenced with the planting of 1,000 indigenous trees—including Sea buckthorn, Oleaster, Black Poplar, Indian Willow, and White Willow—representing a massive collaborative effort between the civic administration, the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and local police.

Crucially, the initiative saw deep participation from local communities, specifically the Spituk Gonpa and its monastic fraternity.

In a first for the region, 1,000 saplings of Apricot and Cherry Blossom were also planted along Leh’s main roadsides to enhance the city’s green aesthetics and seasonal beauty.

This initiative marks India’s first-of-its-kind Cold Desert River Bank Restoration Project, designed to restore the ecological integrity of the fragile Indus riverbanks while creating vital green buffers.

Beyond environmental protection, the project aims to stimulate eco-cultural tourism by transforming the arid landscape into a sustainable sanctuary.

During the launch, LG Saxena issued a clarion call to government agencies and the public to expand this model across the entire Union Territory. Setting a bold target, he exhorted stakeholders to increase Ladakh’s forest cover from its current level of less than 1% to at least 5% within the next two years.

Expressing optimism for the future, the LG stated that the project would serve as a global model for high-altitude ecosystem restoration, acting as an instrument of long-term resilience and stability for the region.