Leh, Oct 15: Ladakh has witnessed a major transformation in infrastructure and living standards since it became a Union Territory in 2019, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said on Thursday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated five development projects worth around Rs 3,350 crore.
The projects span airport infrastructure, strategic road connectivity, hydropower generation, electricity transmission, water conservation and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Calling the projects milestones in Ladakh’s development, LG Saxena as per Kashmir Convener said they would strengthen connectivity, improve power supply and water security, and expand development opportunities in remote parts of the Union Territory.
“Five new infrastructure projects would prove to be milestones in Ladakh’s development, strengthening connectivity, water security, power supply and preservation of cultural heritage,” he said.
The projects include a new passenger terminal at Leh airport, the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road connecting the Zanskar Valley, a Petroglyph Conservation Park in Leh, the 9 MW Hanu Hydroelectric Project, and power transmission infrastructure. The programme also covered 35 water bodies under the Amrit Sarovar initiative.
LG Saxena said the new airport terminal would improve air connectivity and passenger facilities, particularly during winter, while the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road would improve access to remote areas and strengthen strategic connectivity.
He also highlighted the Banga Bot Kharu Small Hydroelectric Project and the 66-kV Thahanu-Khalsti transmission line, saying they would strengthen the region’s power infrastructure.
Referring to Ladakh’s creation as a Union Territory in 2019, Saxena said the move fulfilled a long-standing demand for a distinct identity and greater recognition for the region.
He said the creation of five new districts in April this year and the recent approval for establishing Autonomous Hill Development Councils in all seven districts were important steps towards meeting local aspirations.
On basic amenities, the LG said work under the Jal Jeevan Mission was progressing to provide clean drinking water to households despite Ladakh’s extreme climatic conditions, including sub-zero temperatures.
He said the administration was also introducing policies to economically empower Pashmina herders, while agricultural diversification was helping improve farmers’ incomes.
Ladakh, which earlier depended on supplies from outside for vegetables, now has more than 11,000 greenhouses where farmers grow produce locally, Saxena said. Vegetables are also supplied to defence forces through cooperatives, he added.
Emphasising water conservation, he said initiatives such as Amrit Him Sarovar and efforts to preserve glacial water resources were important for ensuring long-term water security in the strategically significant region.
Improved connectivity, infrastructure development and ease of doing business had also helped boost tourism and strengthen the local economy, he said.
LG Saxena said the completion of the Zojila Tunnel would address one of Ladakh’s major connectivity challenges, as heavy snowfall often cuts off the region from the rest of the country during winter.
Work on the tunnel was progressing on a war footing, he said, requesting the Prime Minister to inaugurate it after completion.
Thanking Modi for joining the programme virtually, Saxena said the people of Ladakh’s seven districts had looked forward to his address with high hopes and aspirations.
“The snow-covered peaks and the inaccessible valleys of Ladakh have always symbolised courage and perseverance. However, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, these very challenges have now become symbols of development and new hope,” he said.
Ladakh is home to hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites featuring carvings of wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations that offer insights into thousands of years of human history. The Petroglyph Conservation Park is intended to help preserve this cultural heritage.
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