Seventeen defence related proposals in Ladakh and Sikkim, relating to strategic infrastructure in border and high-altitude areas were cleared by the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) in its 88th meeting chaired by the Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday.The Union Ministry said the proposals were recommended in view of national security and strategic requirements, while ensuring strict adherence to wildlife mitigation measures and environmental safeguards.During the meeting, the committee considered 70 proposals relating to public utility services, defence requirements and infrastructure development located in and around protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and eco-sensitive zones. The proposals were deliberated with due regard to ecological sensitivity, statutory requirements and the need to ensure essential services for local communities, said the ministry.“Important public utility proposals considered by the committee involved drinking water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), primary and community health centres, widening of roads, 4G mobile towers and transmission lines. Further proposals related to the medium irrigation project in MP providing drinking and irrigation water facility in Bundelkhand region on one hand and enhancing greater water regime for wildlife and gharials on the other were also deliberated,” the ministry said.The action taken report (ATR) on the decisions and directions taken by the committee in previous meetings, especially with respect to policy measures and process streamlining, including improvement of PARIVESH portal, were also deliberated upon by the members of SC-NBWL. The committee decided that policy and programmes related to wildlife conservation and compliance of the directions of the SC-NBWL will further be deliberated in the future meetings for effective monitoring.