Page 14 - Ladakh

Govt approves Rs 687 cr to upgrade Ladakh's power distribution infra

The central government has given its approval for the implementation of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in the Union Territory of Ladakh with a sanctioned cost of Rs 687.05 crore, officials said. The ministry of power conveyed its approval to RDSS for implementation in Ladakh, they said. In this regard, an agreement was signed between chief engineer, Distribution, Ladakh Power Development Department (LPDD), Tsewang Paljor and executive director WAPCOS Limited A K Gahlot in the presence of administrative Secretary Power, Ladakh, Ravinder Kumar, they added. The scheme includes the grid connectivity of the Changthang region, downline infrastructure in the Zanskar region along with other loss reduction works in the Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh, they said. The ministry of power also approved the appointment of WAPCOS, a Government of India undertaking as the project management agency (PMA) for the implementation of RDSS in Ladakh. The Revamped Distribution Sector Schem

3 yrs post Galwan, Chinese strategist 'explains' border tensions with India

The Galwan Valley incident in June 2020 led to the death of 20 Indian and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers

Y20 meet in Ladakh befitting reply to those spreading fears: Thakur

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Services and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur on Saturday said the successful conclusion of the Y20 pre-summit meeting is a befitting reply to those who tried to spread fear and confusion before the event.Thakur during Y20 Yuwa Samwad in Ladakh said, "Some people must have felt pain when I said Y20 Pre-Summit was successful. Those who tried to spread fear and confusion before Y20 Pre-Summit in Leh & tried to make statements, I would like to say to them that Y20 Pre-Summit was also held in Leh and was a very successful event."The Y 20 Pre Summit Meeting under G20 hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs was concluded on April 28.The three-day event began on April 26 and witnessed more than 100 delegates.India assumed the G20 Presidency on 1st December 2022 for a period of 1 year i.e. upto 30th November 2023. India's theme for its presidency is enshrined in its civilizational value system of 'Vasudeva kutumbakam'. ...

India, China agree to speed up Ladakh standoff resolution: Chinese ministry

The Chinese defence ministry said on Tuesday that top military officials of India and China during their latest round of talks have agreed to "speed up" the settlement of "relevant issues" related to the prolonged standoff in eastern Ladakh besides safeguarding peace in the border areas. The 18th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on April 23, the Chinese Defence Ministry here said in a statement. The talks were held ahead of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu's planned visit to India to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on April 27 and 28. The two sides had a friendly and candid exchange of views on relevant issues, said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) statement. Under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries and based on the achievements of the meeting between the two foreign ministers, both sides agreed to maintain close contact and dialogue through ..

Trai recommends measures to improve telecom coverage areas of Ladakh

The telecom regulator Trai on Monday suggested ways to improve telecom coverage and backhaul infrastructure in far-flung areas of Ladakh, with recommendations ranging from resource pooling across telcos on spare backhaul transmission capacity to maintaining a waiting list of service demand by licensed operators. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said that many remote areas in Ladakh lack mobile towers, resulting in network issues, particularly for those residing near the LAC and the Line of Control (LoC). "As these areas are of strategic importance, mobile connectivity is crucial for ensuring the safety of the region by facilitating round-the-clock communication to the security forces deployed in these regions," Trai statement said. Further, Trai noted that media reports too have highlighted the challenges faced by the people living near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in accessing high-speed internet, which is critical for pursuing online education and accessing digital

India, China agree to work out mutually acceptable solution on Ladakh issue

India and China agreed during their military talks on Sunday to stay in close touch and work out a mutually acceptable solution to the "remaining issues" in eastern Ladakh at the earliest, but there was no indication of clear forward movement in ending their three-year-long border standoff. The 18th round of the Corps Commander-level talks took place days ahead of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu's planned visit to India to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on April 27 and 28. In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two sides had a "frank and in-depth" discussion on the resolution of the "relevant" issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western sector. "The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest," the MEA said. The talks were held at the Chushul-Moldo .

Eastern Ladakh row: India, China hold 18th round of military talks

India and China held a fresh round of high-level military talks on Sunday with a focus on resolving the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh as the border row enters the fourth year, people familiar with the matter said. The 18th round of military talks took place ahead of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu's visit to India next week to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation being hosted by New Delhi under its presidency of the grouping. Sunday's military talks came around four months after the last round of the dialogue between the senior Army commanders of the two sides. The talks were held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the people familiar with the developments said. It is learnt that the Indian side insisted on resolving the issues at the remaining friction points of Demchok and Depsang in eastern Ladakh as soon as possible. The Indian delegation at the dialogue was led

Avalanches: Causes, types, risks, tips to follow during snowy cascades

This year has already seen an unfortunate share of avalanches and now JKDMA has warn for more in coming days; here's what to know about avalanches and safety measures that can be taken if one is stuck

Unexploded shells to be cleared from Kargil in time-bound manner: Ladakh LG

Soon after a boy was killed when an unexploded shell went off in Kargil, Ladakh Lt Governor Brig B D Mishra (retd) said on Sunday all such shells would be cleared from the district in a time-bound manner. Mishra gave the assurance to the people after they raised the issue of the presence of a large number of unexploded shells from the army firing range and 1999 Kargil war in Kurbathang and other areas posing threat to the local residents. The whole area will be screened. An operation will be launched immediately to look for the unexploded shells and other dangerous ordnance which will be cleared in a time-bound manner, the LG told reporters at the Kargil hospital where he had gone to enquire about the condition of two boys injured in a blast in Kurbathang region. A 13-year-old boy was killed and two others were injured when an unexploded shell went off at Kurbathang in Kargil district of Ladakh on Sunday, police said. It is an unfortunate incident which claimed the life of a minor

MoRTH pumps in Rs 1.3 trn for highways, tunnels in J&K and Ladakh

A total of 41 significant tunnels are being constructed in J&K and Ladakh at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore, while 18 ropeways costing Rs 5,000 crore will be constructed in the UT

Gadkari inspects Zojila Tunnel to set all weather connectivity for Ladakh

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday inspected the Zojila Tunnel, Asia's longest tunnel, to establish an all weather connectivity for Ladakh

NGT refrains from levying compensation on Ladakh for improper management

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has refrained from levying environmental compensation on the Union Territory of Ladakh for improper management of solid and liquid waste, after noting the area's ground situation and the statement of the UT's chief secretary that adequate funds will be made available for handling the waste. The NGT is monitoring compliance with Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and other environmental issues by states and Union territories. A bench of chairperson Justice A K Goel said it was the Union territory's constitutional responsibility and absolute liability to provide a pollution-free environment, which was a part of the right to life, besides a basic human right, and that the UT had to arrange necessary funds from contributors or others. The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel said lack of funds or absence of other resources such as sites for waste management cannot be a plea to deny such

It remains very fragile: Jaishankar on situation at LAC in eastern Ladakh

The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh remains "very fragile" and is "quite dangerous" in military assessment because of close deployments of troops by both India and China in some pockets, though "substantial" progress has been made in the disengagement process in many areas, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. Jaishankar also said he and then Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi reached an in-principle agreement in September 2020 on how to resolve the issue and that it is for China to deliver on what was agreed to. In an interactive session at the India Today Conclave, the external affairs minister made it clear that the relationship between the two neighbouring countries cannot return to normal until "these problems" are sorted out. The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a nearly-three-year confrontation at certain friction points in eastern Ladakh, even as the two sides have completed disengagement of troops from several area

Col Geeta Rana becomes first woman to command EME unit near China border

The officer has taken over the command of the EME independent workshop after the Army cleared 108 vacancies for women officers for taking command of independent units in the Corps of Engineers

India and China discuss disengagement at remaining friction points

The two sides agreed to hold the 18th round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols

Ladakh's winter of discontent

From cheering its UT status, the region is now mired in protest

Will make every effort to make life in Ladakh easier, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that his government will leave no stone unturned to make life easier for the people of Ladakh. He made the comment tagging a tweet by Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal in which he said the Modi government approved Rs 1681.51 crore for the construction of the 4.1-km-long Shinkun La tunnel to be completed by 2025 to provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh. "The residents of Lungnak Valley of Zanskar, the most backward region of Ladakh, welcomed and thanked Modi ji for this decision," the Lok Sabha MP from the Union Territory said. Tagging his tweet, Modi, in a tweet in Hindi, said, "We will leave no stone unturned to make life easier for the people of Ladakh.

Will intensify agitation if govt doesn't meet demands, say Ladakh groups

A day after they held a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, groups from Ladakh on Thursday reiterated their demands for statehood and sixth schedule status for the Union Territory, threatening to intensify their agitation if the government does not listen to them. At a press conference here, environmental activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk said democracy has been compromised in Ladakh and the local people have no say in decision-making. Speaking on behalf of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, an amalgam of social, religious, and political groups from the two districts of Ladakh, Wangchuk stressed on the need to provide safeguards for the environmentally sensitive area, and involve locals in decision-making. "We wanted to become a Union Territory, but we never imagined it would be without a legislature. There is no participation of people anymore in how the budget allocated to us is spent. The Autonomous Hill Council has also been weakened, and the issue of statehood is of

Union Cabinet approves construction of all-weather tunnel to Ladakh

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod for the construction of the 4.1-km Shinkun La tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road link to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh. Providing details of the cabinet decision, Union minister Anurag Thakur said the tunnel will be completed by December 2025 at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore. The length of the tunnel will be 4.1 km. An approach will also be built by December 2025, he said. The Shinkun La tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh and this will be the shortest route to the border areas of the Union territory from other parts of the country, the minister said. "The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today approved the Shinku La tunnel for Ladakh area which will provide all-weather connectivity to the Ladakh region with the entire country," the minister said. "This (project) is also very important as far as the security and safety of the country is concerned.... It will also help in the moveme

Union Cabinet approves construction of Shinkun La tunnel in Ladakh

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod for the construction of the 4.1-km Shinkun La tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road link to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh. Providing details of the cabinet decision, Union minister Anurag Thakur said the tunnel will be completed by December 2025 at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore. The length of the tunnel will be 4.1 km. An approach will also be built by December 2025. The Shinkun La tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh and this will be the shortest route to the border areas of the Union territory, the minister said. "The Cabinet Committee on Security today approved the Shinku La tunnel for Ladakh area which will provide all-weather connectivity to the Ladakh region with the entire country," the minister said. "This (project) is also very important as far as the security and safety of the country is concerned.... It will also help in the movement of our security forces in that region," Thak