The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has cleared 32 defence-related projects that will entail the diversion of land from protected areas and ecologically sensitive zones in Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Ladakh, and Sikkim. The standing committee of the board, chaired by Union minister Bhupender Yadav, in charge of environment, forest, and climate change, took the decision last month. The projects involve the construction of strategic roads, helipads, border outposts, ammunition depots, and accommodation for, among others, artillery regiments. The ecologically fragile Karakoram (Nubra-Shyok) Wildlife Sanctuary and Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in Ladakh will be affected. Land will also be diverted from the core area of the Namdapha Tiger Reserve........

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