SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated and dedicated five major development projects worth around Rs 3,350 crore in Ladakh, focusing on improving connectivity, electricity and water access, and preserving the region’s heritage.
He also said special attention was being given to the youth of the Union territory so that they get quality education, gain opportunities to learn new technologies, and need not to move to other cities any longer
Addressing the occasion, Modi said natural conditions posed challenges to life in the cold desert but alleged that previous governments had failed to prioritise its development despite these difficulties.
“Natural conditions do present their own challenges but unfortunately, despite these circumstances, previous governments did not give priority to the development of Ladakh,” he said.
He said development had become a major priority for the Centre since Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019. Citing improvements in infrastructure, Modi said the region’s road network had expanded from around 1,800 km before 2019 to more than 4,000 km. The number of major bridges had risen from 19 to 75, while helipads had risen from seven to more than 40.
He said tap-water coverage had grown from about 3.5 per cent of households to nearly 99 per cent, while hospital beds had doubled. Work on the Zojila Tunnel was progressing rapidly, he added, expressing confidence that its completion would provide Ladakh with improved year-round connectivity to the rest of the country.
Meanwhile, talks between officials of the Union Home Ministry and representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been spearheading the agitation for constitutional safeguards and a legislature for Ladakh, remained inconclusive after a meeting in Leh.
Ladakh MP Haji Haneefa Jan, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, Kargil Hill Council Chief Executive Councillor Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra and former Leh Hill Council CEC Tashi Gyalson attended the meeting.
The discussions focused on a roadmap for Ladakh-specific constitutional safeguards under Article 371(K) and a proposed elected body at the UT level. Both sides exchanged draft proposals. LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey said the next talks would take place in New Delhi on October 22.