Balancing Borders and Biodiversity

SC-NBWL Clears 30 Strategic Defence Projects from Ladakh to Arunachal

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 Why in News:

On July 10, 2025, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) granted clearance to 30 critical defence infrastructure projects across the sensitive India-China border region, stretching from Eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, passing through Sikkim.

These projects aim to bolster India’s preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but are situated within or near protected wildlife zones, thus requiring scrutiny and approval under India’s wildlife protection laws. This convergence of national security and ecological regulation offers a textbook case of India’s constitutional balancing act.

 Introduction:

India’s border with China, especially across the rugged terrain of Ladakh and the forested hills of Arunachal, is marked by geopolitical friction, ecological sensitivity, and logistical challenges. Infrastructure projects in these areas must serve dual objectives:

1. Enable rapid mobilisation and deterrence in case of border incursions.
2. Preserve fragile ecosystems, including tiger reserves and biodiversity hotspots.

This recent clearance by the SC-NBWL signals India’s shift toward a “strategic-environmental dual compliance” model—where military modernization coexists with environmental responsibility. This model has increasing relevance for CLAT 2026, both from a constitutional and current affairs perspective.

 Point-wise Summary:

1. What Has Been Approved?

• SC-NBWL has granted approval to 30 defence infrastructure projects.
• Projects include:
  • Forward air base development
  • Missile deployment facilities
  • Strategic roads and bridges connecting remote outposts along the LAC
• Locations span Eastern Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

2. DBO: India’s Strategic North Star

• Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), located at 17,000 ft in Ladakh, is India’s northernmost military post.
• Hosts the world’s highest airstrip, crucial for supply chain and emergency evacuation.
• SC-NBWL also approved an alternate route to DBO via BPM Hut to improve troop movement and equipment deployment.

3. Why SC-NBWL’s Approval Was Needed

• Many projects pass through protected areas, including:
  • Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh
  • Forest corridors rich in biodiversity and endangered species
• Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, SC-NBWL approval is mandatory for all projects in or near protected areas.

4. Environmental Mitigation Measures

• The panel directed the Ministry of Defence to:
  • Minimize habitat disruption
  • Avoid alignment through core tiger zones
  • Implement compensatory afforestation
  • Monitor ecological impact post-construction

5. Tension Between Conservation and National Security

• Projects in pristine ecosystems raise valid concerns about:
  • Habitat fragmentation
  • Loss of migratory paths
  • Long-term degradation of rare flora and fauna
• Yet, the geopolitical reality of Chinese encroachments makes inaction strategically unviable.

6. Precedents and Policy Shifts

• In October 2024, SC-NBWL had cleared an alternate road to DBO, noting the absence of existing routes and heightened threat perceptions.
• Growing recognition that “green clearance cannot become a red light for national defence”.

7. Legal and Constitutional Context

• Articles 48A (Directive Principles) and 51A(g) (Fundamental Duties) demand environmental protection.
• Yet, under the doctrine of “public interest override”, critical defence projects may receive exemption or expedited clearance—subject to regulatory oversight.

 Understanding SC-NBWL (Standing Committee – National Board for Wildlife)

What is SC-NBWL?

• A statutory body under Section 5B of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Chaired by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Includes wildlife experts, conservationists, and government officials.

Powers and Functions:

• Approves or denies projects in Protected Areas (PAs) and Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).
• Mandates environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for certain categories.
• Suggests alternative project alignments, compensatory forestation, and wildlife mitigation measures.

 Notes: Explanation of Key Terms

 Strategic, Legal, and Environmental Insights

1. Geo-Strategic Importance

• India is bolstering border infrastructure in response to China’s dual-use village policy and road-rail networks in Tibet.
• Projects like these will allow:
  • Faster troop mobilisation
  • Reliable supply lines
  • Quick response capabilities in high-altitude war theatres

1. Legal Tightrope: Defence vs Environmental Law

• Section 29 of the Wildlife Protection Act prohibits activities that harm wildlife habitats—unless permitted by SC-NBWL.
• Article 21 (Right to Life) has been judicially interpreted to include clean environment (Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar).
• Courts have held that public safety and sovereignty can override environmental concerns if due process is followed.

1. CLAT Relevance:

• Reading comprehension passages on India-China border, tiger conservation, environmental clearance.
• Legal reasoning questions on conflicts between two fundamental values (national security vs environment).
• Essay prompts like:
  • “Is development at the cost of biodiversity justified?”
  • “Strategic autonomy and ecological accountability—Can India balance both?”

 Broader National and Global Context

• Globally, defence infrastructure has exemptions or fast-track approvals in environmental law—seen in the US, Israel, and China.
• India must ensure its regulatory institutions remain vigilant and are not overridden by strategic expediency.
• A green-defence corridor policy, combining wildlife protection with military needs, is being suggested by experts.

Conclusion:

The clearance of 30 projects by SC-NBWL represents a crucial juncture where India is asserting its right to defend its borders while adhering to environmental norms. It underscores a nuanced model of governance that does not treat development and conservation as adversaries, but as interdependent imperatives.

For CLAT 2026 aspirants, this case illustrates:

• The workings of environmental law
• The constitutional structure balancing DPSPs and Fundamental Rights
• Real-world intersections of policy, law, and strategy