Ladakh

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

Ladakh to host India's first frozen-lake marathon at Pangong Tso on Feb 20

India's first "frozen-lake marathon" at Ladakh's Pangong Tso at a height of 13,862 feet will be held on February 20 and the army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been roped in to implement a "proper action plan" for the event, a senior government official said on Sunday. The 21-kilometre marathon, with Lukung as its starting point, will end at Maan village. Seventy-five selected athletes from India and abroad are participating in the run, giving them an opportunity to make a bid for a Guinness world record for the world's highest "frozen-lake marathon", officials said. The marathon is being called the "Last Run" to highlight the issue of climate change, they said. It is being organised by the Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh (ASFL) in collaboration with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Leh, the Tourism Department and the Leh district administration. "All necessary arrangements have been worked out for the success of this challenging event being ...

Hundreds join Wangchuk on last day of his hunger strike on issues of Ladakh

Hundreds of people on Monday joined education reformist Sonam Wangchuk on the final day of his five-day hunger strike here in support of the demand for various safeguards for Ladakh, including extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the Union territory. Prominent among those who joined Wangchuk, an engineer whose life inspired a character in Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, were leaders of the Leh Apex Body of Peoples Movement for Sixth Schedule and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The apex body and KDA, a separate amalgam of socio-religious, political and youth organisations, are jointly spearheading a campaign to press for their four-point demands which include full statehood and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule to the region. "Today is the last day of my symbolic carbon neutral climatic fast and I am thankful to the people for joining me. The fast was an attempt to invite the attention of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) so that our leaders can brief him about

Ladakh: Sonam Wangchuk says he's under house arrest, police deny charge

Engineer and innovator Sonam Wangchuk claims he has been placed under house arrest at his institute here, a charge denied by police which says he was only prevented from observing a five-day fast at the top of Khardung La. The education reformist, who inspired a pivotal character in the Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, had announced the hunger strike at the 18,380 feet high Khardung La from January 26 to invite the BJP-led Centre's attention to the demands of the people of Ladakh. These include extension of the sixth schedule of the Constitution and environmental protection form unchecked industrial and commercial expansion. In a tweet on Saturday, Wangchuk shared a copy of a bond, which among other things sought an undertaking that he will not make any comments, statements, public speech, hold or participate in public assemblies or any activity related to the recent events in Leh district. "CALLING LAWYERS OF THE WORLD!!! The #Ladakh UT administration wants me to sign this bond eve

Ladakh to showcase rich culture, heritage during G20 summit, says LG Mathur

Ladakh will get the opportunity to showcase its rich culture and heritage during the G20 summit, Lt Governor RK Mathur said on Thursday. Mathur, who unfurled the Tricolour and inspected a parade during the 74th Republic Day celebrations, emphasised on the need to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'panch pran (five pledges)'. "Ladakh will get the opportunity to showcase its rich culture and heritage to the entire world while hosting cultural events during the G20 summit," he said. The 'Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)' movement associated with the summit will encourage the citizens to adopt environmentally-conscious practices, greenery and cleanliness, he said. "With India entering 'Amrit Kaal', it is the responsibility of the citizens to take the country on the path of becoming a prosperous and developed nation over the next 25 years," Mathur added. Emphasising on the need to achieve the prime minister's five pledges, Mathur said, "The 'panch pran' are moving forward with a .

India loses access to 26 of 65 patrol points in Eastern Ladakh: Report

The report was presented at the annual meeting of the nation's senior police commanders, which took place last week in Delhi and was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Cong slams govt as India unable to patrol at 26 out of 65 points in Ladakh

Slamming the NDA government over reports that India is not able to patrol at 26 out of the 65 Patrolling Points in Ladakh, AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "gave a clean chit to China" in 2020 by saying that the nieghbouring country has not entered into our territory. Citing media reports on the issue, he said every citizen should be concerned about the country not being able to patrol at those points and that the Prime Minister is not concerned. "And, why it happened? Because, June 20, 2020... the Prime Minister of this country gave a clean chit to China that China has not entered," Khera, Chairman of AICC's Media and Publicity department, told reporters here. The valour of 20 of our brave soldiers has been insulted, he said. China is feeling confident now that, whatever it does, PM "Narendra Modi ji would close his eyes" to save his image and say that China has not done anything wrong, he alleged. Khera, who claimed that the ..

Act now or Ladakh could become a barren land of disasters: Sonam Wangchuk

Wangchuk, who inspired 3 Idiots character, to go on fast; says Joshimath should be lesson for Ladakh

2/3rd of Ladakh glaciers endangered: Sonam Wangchuk urges PM for action

Sonam Wangchuk, the Social reformist from Ladakh whose life story inspired the Bollywood film 3 Idiots, has urged PM Modi for ensuring the safety and protection of Ladakh

At minus 6.4 degrees Celsius Srinagar records coldest night of season

At minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, J&K's Srinagar city recorded the coldest night of the season so far on Thursday.

Amit Shah to hold high level review meetings regarding J&K and Ladakh

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair two high-level review meetings regarding the status of security and development projects in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh