One cannot dispute the complaint of the people of Leh that they have been left far behind in overall development of Leh region in comparison to other two regions of the State. Actually Ladakh region should have received first priority for all developmental programmes over the decades. Taking into account the strategic location of Ladakh and far more backwardness in comparison to other districts of the State, the area should have been given priority. That was not the case. The people of Ladakh gave vent to their grievances not once but for many years at end but there were no takers. Disgusted with the situation in which they were placed, and pressed hard by climatic, and connectivity problems besides very weak economy, the people of Ladakh raised the cry for grant of centrally administered territory status for Ladakh as was the case with many other centrally administered territories. The justification put forward by Ladakhis was that theirs was a border region highly vulnerable to intrusion by the Chinese and Pakistanis. It was important that the region was insulated against these recurring threats. This movement went on for a long time and ultimately culminated in granting Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council to the region which has been the focal agency dedicated to the developmental projects in Ladakh.
An important area in which Ladakh needed immediate attention of the Central Government was its mobile connectivity with the rest of the country. No doubt the BSNL did reach the region but taking into consideration the expanse of the Ladakh and its borders with China, the mobile services provided were not adequate. Only a few mobile towers were erected which had only limited service capability. Understanding the importance and relevance of mobile connectivity in this age of information technology, there has been the constant demand of the people in Ladakh that mobile service facility should be upgraded, expanded and made efficient. It appears that the BSNL authorities are now becoming fully aware of the logic behind the recurring demand of the people of Ladakh that mobile services should be maximally improved. The essential part of improving mobile service in the vast region of Ladakh is first to erect mobile towers of communication at suitable distances. In a bid to address this need, the BSNL recently decided to begin the project of installing the towers. Recently Member Parliament (MP) Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang inaugurated a mobile tower at famous Pangung Lake near Lukung. The function was attended by many local people and from official side Chief General Manager (CGM) J&K circle Dr Labh Singh, TDM BSNL, Leh, Phuntsog Dorje and other Engineers of BSNL were also present on the occasion. This is a happy development because now the Department of Telecommunicat-ion has realized the importance of bringing all the region of Ladakh including its border within the ambit of BSNL mobile connectivity. Only recently we carried an editorial on Lake Pangung and its strategic importance being so close to the border. This lake has become the tourist destination and tourists from far and wide, including those from foreign countries, throng to it during summer months. It is highly commendable on the part of the BSNL authorities to have installed the tower here so that not only the locals abut also the tourists coming to visit this place will have the facility of mobile connectivity with the world outside. In his address to the assembled people on the occasion, the Member Parliament from Ladakh said that it was important that mobile connectivity was provided to all border area in Ladakh. He added that he had already approached the Central Government and the matter was very much with the Telecom Ministry. He was confident that the Central Government would give special attention to the demand of the people of Ladakh.
The response of the CGM of BSNL was very encouraging and he appealed to the people of Ladakh to extend their full cooperation to the organization in improving and streamlining mobile services in Ladakh division. He said that the proposal was already in hand and that he would do all that was possible to have communication towers all over the border. He emphasized that the people of Ladakh were very cooperative and hoped that they would play their role in maintaining safety and security of the towers and infrastructure. It has to be remembered that of late the Central Government and the Defence Ministry have been giving extraordinary importance to Ladakh region particularly the border areas. Road connectivity on a large scale is on Government’s agenda for Ladakh and now mobile connectivity will also be brought on priority list. Ladakh is now standing on the threshold of large scale development.
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