Ladakh’s New Aspirations

Context: The Central government needs to address the concerns, apprehensions and hopes of the people of UT of Ladakh after the abrogation of article 370.

Addressing the aspirations of Ladakh: 

• Legal safeguard: The Central govt need to come out with an alternative legal safeguard and also notify a domicile law for Ladakh to remove the fear of job insecurity and demographic changes.
• Clarification is needed with regards to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council functioning and business rules under the new UT system. 
• Exploring vacant arid land: In Leh district only 23%  of the reporting area is under cultivation. The administration needs to bring more areas under agriculture.
• Harnessing Indus water resources of Zanskar, Suru, Dras, Shayok, Galwan and other tributaries for promoting agriculture.
• Value based agriculture: Varied agro-climatic conditions provide prospects for horticulture and floriculture industries. 

• Promoting organic vegetables due to high alluvial soil availability. 
• Investors should jump for commercial farming of high-value items like lavender, saffron and vine fruits.

• Medicinal plants: The region’s medicinal herbs can be opened for both grinding and extraction. 

• The fruit residue of sea-buckthorn is rich in protein and amino acids known for making juice. 
• Also setting up mineral water plants, anti-ageing, antioxidant drinks plants.

• Livestock sector: Nomadic farming can be expanded. Better technological intervention to make the local wool and woven fabric a world-class product. 
• Boosting tourism: Ensuring better security environment along with controlled flow of visitors to protect the fragile ecosystem. 

• Harnessing solar power: Solar power potential of Ladakh is 7,500 MW. 

• Government had announced Rs 50,000-crore grid-connected solar photo-voltaic project to harness. 

• Connectivity projects: Speedy implementation of connectivity projects is need of the hour

For example:

• 14.15-km bi-directional tunnel across Zoji-la. 
• 8.8-km tunnel through the Rohtang Pass to connect Manali with Leh.
• Connecting Leh with the railway network.