Page 4 - Ladakh

Ladakh witnessing unprecedented growth with focus on modern governance: L-G

The Union Territory of Ladakh is witnessing unprecedented growth with focus on modern governance, renewable energy and people-centric development, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta said on Sunday. Addressing the Lead Impact Conclave here, he said education, health, and tourism remain the foremost priorities of his administration. Ladakh has witnessed unprecedented growth since becoming a Union Territory (in 2019), with the administration committed to sustainable and inclusive governance, Gupta said. The LG said Ladakh's transformation reflects its focus on renewable energy adoption, paperless governance, and modern administrative reforms, making it a model for other states and Union territories. Our endeavour is to ensure that Ladakh becomes a benchmark of balanced development, where economic progress is pursued in harmony with our cultural values and sensitive ecosystem, he said. Gupta said his administration is committed to provide quality education, strengthen healthcare ...

Sonam Wangchuk, Leh Apex Body begin fast demanding Ladakh statehood

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Leh Apex Body on Wednesday announced that they are starting a 35-day fast in Leh over their demands for Ladakh's inclusion under the Constitution's sixth schedule and statehood. At a press conference, which was preceded by an all-faith prayer service, Wangchuk, a climate activist, educator and Ramon Magsaysay awardee, said they took the decision to go on another fast from Wednesday as no meeting has been called by the Union home ministry with them over their demands in the last two months. Wangchuk said they are being forced to intensify the movement demanding statehood and protection under the sixth schedule of the Constitution for Ladakh as the Centre has not addressed their demands. "The talks with the Union government stopped around two months ago. Just as the talks were going to reach a point where discussions about the main demands were going to start, the government has not called another meeting," he said. Wangchuk said the Hill Counc

Army carries out rescue operation for South Korean nationals in Ladakh

Following the rescue, the Army later confirmed through a Fire and Fury Corps X post that one of the mountaineers lost his life after the rescue operation

Flight operations to Leh affected due to bad weather: Delhi Airport

Due to bad conditions in Leh, flight operations to the destination have been affected, said Delhi Airport said in the passenger advisory

Over 1,600 km roads built in Ladakh since UT status in 2019: Govt in LS

Around 1,670 kilometres of additional roads have been constructed or blacktopped in Ladakh since it was granted Union Territory status in 2019, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that the Union Territory of Ladakh is now well equipped with snow-clearance machinery to ensure road connectivity during heavy snowfall. Helipads have also been constructed at various locations to improve overall connectivity. Rai said there has been a significant improvement in road infrastructure in Ladakh following its reorganisation. "As per information provided by the UT of Ladakh, under various schemes of the Central Governmentincluding the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), and UT-administered schemesapproximately 1,670 kilometres of additional roads have been constructed, blacktopped, or metalled since the formation of the Union Territory in 2019," he said. The Minister adde

Dalai Lama lays foundation for Chowkhang Vihara rebuild in Ladakh

The Dalai Lama on Sunday here laid the foundation of the Chowkhang Vihara for reconstruction. The event drew a large gathering of religious leaders, local dignitaries, and community members. At the Chowkhang Vihara, the 14th Dalai Lama was received by Ladakh Buddhist Association president Chering Dorjay Lakruk. The reception featured traditional Ladakhi music and ceremonial offerings of khattaks. "Let this not be a place for only ritual prayers and idle chatter but a centre for deep study and debate on Buddhist philosophy, a wellspring of wisdom for generations," the the Tibetan spiritual leader said after laying the foundation. Lakruk called the event a historic moment for the region. He said a request had been made to his holiness to come for the event some three months back. "This is perhaps the greatest blessing we could receive. The whole of Ladakh is touched by auspicious winds today," he said. The temple, constructed in 1957, is up for reconstruction after developing crack

Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta meets PM Modi, Home Minister Shah

Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta on Saturday separately met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah here and apprised them of the overall situation in the Union Territory, an official spokesman said. Gupta, who took over as the Lt Governor of Ladakh on July 18, first met the prime minister and briefed him about the ground realities, challenges and aspirations of the people of Ladakh, the spokesman said. He highlighted the expectations of the people concerning development, connectivity, healthcare and livelihood opportunities. He also drew attention to the immense potential of Ladakh in the tourism sector, particularly in eco-tourism, adventure sports and cultural heritage-based experiences, the spokesman said. The spokesman said the prime minister reiterated the Government of India's commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Ladakh and stressed the importance of ensuring that the benefits of governance and welfare schemes reach the last person in the

BRO plans tunnels to ensure all-weather connectivity in eastern Ladakh

In a move to bolster strategic infrastructure, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is in the advanced planning stages of constructing numerous tunnels and high-altitude passes to ensure all-weather road connectivity in eastern Ladakh, a senior officer said on Saturday. The BRO is also aggressively adopting new technologies to accelerate project execution in this high-altitude region, where the working season is restricted to just a few months due to harsh winter conditions. "Primarily, Ladakh is linked by two national highways NH 1 and NH 3. We are responsible for NH 3. The Rohtang tunnel has already come up and we are planning on a few tunnels along passes like Baralacha and Tanglang," Col. Deepak Palande, director, works and resources, Project Himank, told PTI here. BRO's Project Himank was raised for the development of road communication in Ladakh region. It ensures the maintenance of communication and access to strategic areas close to the Line of Actual Control with China. Co

India successfully conducts tests of Prithvi-II and Agni-I missiles

India successfully test fires Prithvi-II and Agni-I ballistic missiles from ITR off Odisha coast

Indian Army tests Akash Prime missile in Ladakh, scores 2 direct hits

The trial was carried out by the Army Air Defence along with senior officials of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which has developed the system

Rahul, Kharge, write to PM Modi, urge legislation for statehood to J&K

Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge also urged the Centre to put forth a legislation that will bring the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution

NBWL clears over 30 defence projects in protected areas across states

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), headed by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, has recommended 32 defence infrastructure proposals involving diversion of land from protected areas and eco-sensitive zones across Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Ladakh and Sikkim. These include construction of strategic roads, helipads, training areas, ammunition depots, housing for troops and artillery regiments, with the bulk of the projects located in Ladakh's ecologically fragile Karakoram and Changthang sanctuaries. In Arunachal Pradesh, the committee cleared two major projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) inside Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary: the 56-km Malinye-Balua-Kapuda road (involving 111.29 hectares of forest land and 9.73 ha from the Eco-Sensitive Zone) and the 20.88-km Kapuda-Phuphu road (involving 44.13 ha of forest land). "The animal passage plan for the present proposal should address the wildlife movement for the animals found in the sanctuary

Govt targets ₹1 trillion farm economy in J&K by 2030, says LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the government's goal is to make every farmer in the Union Territory a proud stakeholder in India's journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Addressing the closing Ceremony of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at SKUAST Kashmir's Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops at Khudwani-Kulgam in south Kashmir, Sinha said it is a comprehensive strategy, designed to make J&K UT a robust Rs 1 trillion agricultural economy by 2030. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor lauded the valuable contribution of those associated with the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan for marking a transformative step, through this initiative, toward building a resilient, modern, and prosperous agricultural landscape in the Union Territory. "Let us walk together towards a future where every field blooms with prosperity, every farmer thrives with dignity and every village becomes a symbol of development. With Sankalp (resolve) comes Shakti ...

Tourist spots shut after Pahalgam attack to reopen in phases: LG Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the parks at tourist places, which were closed in view of security considerations after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, are being reopened in a phased manner to allow tourists to visit the destinations. "Some places were closed after April 22 (attack) in view of security considerations. The divisional commissioners and IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu have taken reports from every district and it has been decided to reopen some destinations in a phased manner," Sinha said. The lieutenant governor was speaking to reporters after visiting the Nunwan Base Camp of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Sinha said the destinations that have been decided to be reopened for tourists in the first phase include Beetab Valley and parks near Pahalgam market in the famous tourist destination of Pahalgam, Verinag, Kokernag and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district. In Srinagar, Badamwari Park, Duck Par

Ladakh reservation, Manipur floods, Microsoft layoffs, Israel kills 27 in Gaza #newsin1min

The government has introduced new reservation and domicile rules for Ladakh, reserving 85% of jobs for locals and one-third of seats in the Hill Development Councils for women.

Ladakh announces new domicile, job reservation and language policies

The government on Tuesday announced new reservation and domicile polices for the Union Territory of Ladakh, reserving 85 per cent jobs for locals and one-third of the total number of seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women. English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi languages have been made the official languages in Ladakh. The move is aimed at safeguarding local interests as people in Ladakh have been protesting for constitutional safeguards to protect their language, culture and land after the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 was abrogated in 2019. The changes in the policies for reservation in jobs, autonomous councils, domicile and languages will come into effect from Tuesday, according to multiple notifications issued by the government. Under the new rules, those who have resided for a period of 15 years in the UT or studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 examination in an educational

Ladakh Reservation Act amended: Reservation cap set at 85%, EWS excluded

The Ministry of Law and Justice amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act for Ladakh, capping total reservation at 85 per cent, excluding the Economically Weaker Sections quota

Flying of drones, UAVs banned in Leh district amid India-Pak tensions

Authorities in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Thursday prohibited flying of drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Leh district, citing credible inputs and security concerns about their potential misuse by anti-national elements. District Magistrate of Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, ordered the prohibition on flying of drones and UAVs by locals, tourists, or private persons and said any violation of the order shall attract strict legal action under relevant laws. "This order is issued ex-parte in the interest of public safety and security and shall remain in force until further notice," he said. The order was issued a day after Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In view of the likelihood of threats to public safety, security installations, and the general public, the order said the Superintendent of Police, Leh has requested for issuing orders prohibiting flying of drones and UAVs by the gener

Ladakh safe; stakeholders demand removal of 'misleading' travel advisories

Concerned over the cancellations of bookings in the aftermath of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the tourism stakeholders in the neighbouring Ladakh on Wednesday assured the foreign and domestic tourists of safe travel in the Union Territory (UT). They also demanded the removal of "misleading" travel advisories. Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. Ladakh observed a shutdown against the terror attack. The UT is also holding a candlelight vigil, jointly being organised by all religious groups representing Buddhist, Muslim and Christian communities besides trade and tourism associations here later in the day to express solidarity with the bereaved families. The "terrorism-free" region of Ladakh was separated from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. The two were made separate UTs. All Ladakh Ho

China's PLA ready to work with India for fair border solution, stable ties

The Chinese military on Thursday said it is willing to work with its Indian counterpart to implement a fair and just solution to the border issue besides sound and stable defence ties. A spokesman for China's National Defence, Sr. Col Wu Qian, made the remarks at a media briefing here while replying to a question about the disengagement and the follow-up process at the eastern Ladakh part of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "The Chinese military is willing to work together with our Indian counterparts to implement a fair and just solution on the border issue, Wu told reporters. Wu said the Chinese military would also like to "contribute our wisdom and strength to the beautiful vision of a shared dance between the dragon and elephant and a sound and stable military-to-military relationship." The dragon elephant dance has become a constant theme of China of late as the two countries ended the over four-year freeze of relations after reaching agreement over the disengagement process