Mukhtar Hussain
Few days ago, the Chief Minister raised among other, the issue of Zojila tunnel with the Union Minister of Transport and Highways.The decision of the latter to finalize the project and subsequent commencement of the work on the tunnel is welcome. Although, the cabinet had given its approval for constructing the 14.8km Zojila tunnel way back in 2013, the work on the tunnel is yet to commence. The tunnel project is stalled due to continous failure of the bidding process.The National Highway Development and Corporation Ltd(NHDCL) has been entrusted with the work on the tunnel. The tunnel, if completed will provide all weather connectivity to the isolated region of Ladakh which would have enormous socio-economic and strategic significance. The tunnel has remained one of the foremost and persistent demands of the people of Ladakh especially of Kargil for past 30-35 years. However the governments of the day remained more or less indifferent to this genuine demand of the people of the region. I would endeavour to explore the implications of the tunnel on the region as well as for the nation as a whole.
Socio-Economic Implications:
Zojila pass is one of the highest passes at an elevation of 11575ft, connecting Ladakh with the rest of the world through Kashmir. It remains closed for almost six months from December to May which results in severing the connection of Ladakh with the rest of the world thereby resulting in its forced isolation every year for the past sixty five years. Due to its forced isolation, Ladakh suffers almost in every aspect, be it socio-economic development or education, health or any other plausible aspect. The only connecting link with the rest of the world is by air. The travel by flight from Srinagar, Jammu or Delhi is extremely costly affair which an average Ladakhi cannot afford. Although, the Govt of India/Indian Air Force runs a relatively cheaper flight namely AN-32 courier service from Srinagar and Jammu, these flights are most often at the mercy of the highly erratic weather. You are never sure when are you going to arrive at the destination, at times taking more than twenty days without any flight.
In this context, the difficulties and sufferings that an average Ladakhi encounters can be imagined by a rational mind. Sufferings double if you are a patient requiring emergency service or a student who has to arrive on time to appear for an exam, for you are never definite about your flight.
However, this is one aspect of the bigger story. Another aspect of the story is about the difficult and challenging life in the Trans Himalayan region bearing an inhospitable climate in the absence of the link with the world for almost half the year. Challenges in getting essentials concerning living, health, and education are difficult to imagine for an outsider. The impact of the severed link on the local economy is also noteworthy. The partition of the country has severed the economic link that Ladakh enjoyed with Baltistan, which had severe implications on the local economy. Kargil-Shardu road which is an all-weather road is yet to be opened for trade among others. In the context of this isolation in all spheres, the construction of Zojila tunnel at the earliest opportunity becomes pertinent. Constructing Zojila Tunnel would defineitely give a boost to the local economy by increasing the intra-state regional trade and economic transactions. Ladakh being a snowland, would attract tourists from the other parts of the country as well as abroad for winter games like ice hockey. Furthermore, increased cultural contacts will work as a unifying force and help integrate the people of the region with the state and rest of the country.
Also, the norms of democractic system suggests that the nation cannot leave its people disconnected and in darkness for such a longer period. It has to necessarily provide them their right to remain connected with the world.
Connecting Ladakh fully with the rest of the state, besides helping contribute to the economy of the state would also benefit the State in other ways. For example, increased contacts with the people of different regions of the state would serve as a unifying force for the state which is otherwise very diverse.
Strategic Implications:
Besides socio-economic implications for the construction of the tunnel, another and the most significant implication would be on the strategic and security aspect. In fact ,the elites in New Delhi calculate more or less about the tunnel only from a strategic point of view. In the recent decades both Kargil and Leh have assumed extraordinary strategic significance. India has a shared and contested border with both Pakistan and China in Kargil and Leh respectively. Both the countries have remained hostile towards India in their policies. India has bitter experience with both. Given that both these hostile neighbours are close ally of each other, adds further to the security dilemma. It is to be noted that in the 1948 Indo-Pak war Pakistani invaders seized the Zojila pass and tried to capture the Ladakh region which was later recaptured by the Indian forces. In 1999 as well, Pakistan aimed at severing the link of the region with the valley by continous artillery firing on the National Hihghway that connects Kargil with Kashmir.
Furthermore, in the wake of China’s emerging stature and clout in the international system and its increasing influence in South Asia through its policies like belt and road initiative(OBOR) and its now more close alliance with Pakistan through China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), makes India vulnerable in the Ladakh region. Given that China has been commiting incursions in the Ladakh region, India has every reason to doubt its intention.
Therefore, in the changed scenario, Ladakh bears great strategic and security significance. An all weather connectivity with the Ladakh region is the only panacea for India ,if it has to secure itself and preserve its territorial integrity across the Indo-China and Indo-Pak border in the Ladakh region. It is in the interest of the people of the region and state as well as in the larger national interest to commence work on the tunnel sooner as possible.
(The author is a teacher in School Education Department Kargil.)
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