When State and Central authorities claim that J&K is a mosaic of cultures, languages and ethnicity, the simple inference is that all the three regions of the State have to be given equal and justifiable treatment in all walks of life. In geographical, climatic and topographic terms, the three regions are poles apart from one another. Consequently, for developmental purposes, authorities have to take ground situation into consideration, which, apart from population and land mass, also means the connectivity, climatic conditions, and the life style of the people. Aware of the fact that Ladakh is divergent from other two regions of the State in a big way the people there had been clamouring for declaring Ladakh a Union Territory. That, however, did not happen. Nevertheless, it was given the status of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), something presumed to be consolation prize for those demanding UT status.
However, grant of LAHDC was more of eye wash than something tangible for the people of the region. The perceived “autonomy” meant very little when it was not accompanied by financial autonomy. For that purpose, Ladakh remained subservient to the State authorities which, as we know, seldom showed any intention of meting out uniform and equitable treatment to Ladakh region. Thus the story of LAHDC is the story of a starved soul craving for morsels, which are hard to come by. We will try to elucidate this statement with concrete examples.
Ladakh faced massive flash flood in August 2010, which caused unparalleled damage to the infrastructure, farm lands and residential quarters in parts of Ladakh. Then again in summer 2014 and 2015 more floods and more devastation visited the region. When the 2010 massive flash floods happened, the Central and the State Governments made loud announcements of providing sufficient financial help to the affected people and rebuilding the damaged infrastructure. This claim remained more a slogan than reality. Funds were never released on time and sufficient enough to alleviate the suffering of the people. Same situation continue after two more floods as stated above. The nullahs create havoc when there are rains and these get over flooded. There was a comprehensive scheme on paper for raising embankments to protect farm lands from being flooded. The embankments never were to be there. Even the rivers also cause damage when in spate during summer rains. Most of the devastated infrastructure remains unattended. Feeling that Ladakh is given discriminatory treatment, a delegation from the LAHDC has met with the Governor and apprised him of the problems the Council is facing. The important task before the Hill Council is restoration of damages suffered in the course of three floods in recent past and protection from further damages in future. The delegation is complaining of discriminatory treatment arguing that while funds have been frugally given to flood sufferers in Kashmir and Jammu during the floods of 2014, a different yardstick has been adopted in the case of Ladakh. Allocations made in annual district development plans are very meager in comparison to what the actual needs are. Leh has 112 villages and there is hardly a village which has not met with damages caused by flood waters during rainy season. After all, these villages need permanent solution of the threat of floods. The Hill Council is faced with liabilities which are increasing with each passing year. The contractors are shying away from undertaking any developmental work because of their bad experience of delayed or deferred payments.
LAHDC Leh has prepared an Action Plan of Rs 161165.78 lakh for effecting permanent restoration of damaged public infrastructure. How far this requirement will be met by the State Government is to be seen. We know that as the border district where our border with Chinese territory is meeting along a long LAC, the Union Government is making huge investments in border roads and infrastructure. That is purely from defence and security point of view. It has to be remembered that the defence structure makes real sense when it is backed up by civilian developmental structure, which, in the case of Ladakh, is dismally lacking.
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