Leh, Oct 15: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena hailed the Centre’s initiatives on Thursday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated five development projects in Ladakh, including airport infrastructure and strategic road connectivity, worth around Rs 3,350 crore.
Saxena said the region has seen a major transformation in infrastructure and living standards under the Prime Minister’s leadership since it became a Union Territory in 2019.
Saxena said, “Five new infrastructure projects would prove to be milestones in Ladakh’s development, strengthening connectivity, water security, power supply and preservation of cultural heritage.”
The Lieutenant Governor (LG) thanked Narendra Modi for his leadership and support, saying the people of Ladakh’s seven districts looked forward to his address with high hopes and aspirations.
The Prime Minister inaugurated five projects, including a modern passenger terminal at Leh airport; the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road connecting the Zanskar valley; India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park in Leh; the 9 MW Hanu Hydroelectric Project; and power transmission infrastructure and 35 water bodies under the Amrit Sarovar initiative.
“The inauguration of the Banga Bot Kharu Small Hydroelectric Project and the 66-kV Thahanu-Khalsti transmission line will also help strengthen the region’s power infrastructure,” the LG said.
Saxena said the new airport terminal would improve air connectivity and passenger facilities, particularly during winter, while the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road would connect remote areas with the mainstream of development and strengthen internal security.
Highlighting 2019, he said granting Ladakh Union Territory status fulfilled a long-standing demand for a distinct identity and greater recognition.
“The formation 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 fulfilling local aspirations,” he said.
Saxena said Ladakh was improving road connectivity and other infrastructure, while work under the Jal Jeevan Mission was progressing to provide clean drinking water to households despite sub-zero temperatures. He said new policies were also being introduced to economically empower Pashmina herders, while agricultural diversification was helping increase farmers’ incomes.
The LG said Ladakh, which once depended on outside supplies for vegetables, now has more than 11,000 greenhouses where farmers grow vegetables locally and supply them to defence forces through cooperatives.
Emphasising the importance of water conservation, Saxena said initiatives such as Amrit Him Sarovar and conserving glacial water resources were helping ensure long-term water security in the strategically important region.
Improved connectivity, infrastructure development, and ease of doing business have also boosted tourism and strengthened the local economy, he said.
The LG said the Zojila Tunnel’s completion would address one of Ladakh’s major connectivity challenges, as the region often remains cut off from the rest of the country during winter due to heavy snowfall.
Work on the tunnel is progressing on a war footing, he said, and he requested the Prime Minister to inaugurate the project once it was completed. Saxena expressed confidence that Ladakh would continue to receive the Prime Minister’s guidance and support for its overall development.
He welcomed Modi on behalf of the Ladakh administration and its people, thanking him for participating in the programme despite being unable to visit the region in person. “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,” Saxena said.
He said Modi’s decision to join the programme virtually reflected his affection for the people of Ladakh, his dedication to their welfare and his vision for the region. Saxena said the people of Ladakh would remain grateful to the Prime Minister for sparing his valuable time to honour them and give unprecedented momentum to the region’s development.
Ladakh is home to hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites featuring carvings of wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations that offer valuable insights into thousands of years of human history. ( PTI )
