Two districts, Admn Units, LAHDC powers likely soon
Next round of talks with LAB, KDA too expected shortly
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 10: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra today called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi amid speculations that another round of dialogue between the MHA and two bodies of Ladakh-Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)-is on the cards and the Central Government could make some important announcements pertaining to the Union Territory including two districts and few other administrative units ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
A tweet by the MHA said Mishra called on the Union Home Minister today. There was no official statement as to what transpired at the meeting but there were reports that some announcements by the MHA pertaining to Ladakh are on the cards and they may have figured in the meeting.
The LG Ladakh also presented a copy of a book ‘Where Heaven and Mountains Meet: Zanskar and the Himalayas’ by French photographer and author Olivier Follmi to Shah.
Originally published in French in 1997 and later translated into English in 1999, the book contains Folllmi’s photographs of the extraordinary landscape of Zanskar and portraits of its people, along with delicate, hand-painted watercolors by Tibetan artist Rapkar Wangchuk which seek to recreate the quintessential images of Tibetan Buddhism.
As per the sources, the Central Government has been actively considering grant of district status to Zanskar and Nubra which will take number of total districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh from two to four. Presently, Leh and Kargil are only two districts in UT.
Many organizations from Ladakh besides the BJP have repeatedly been demanding declaration of Nubra and Zanskar as districts. Besides, the sources said, few more administrative units can also be created if found feasible as Ladakh has very less population.
The ongoing dialogue between High Powered Committee led by Shah’s deputy Nityanand Rai and LAB and KDA, of which Mishra is also a part, is also expected to have figured in the meeting.
The LAB and KDA are now advocating for the implementation of selected provisions from the Sixth Schedule rather than its entirety in the Union Territory, while maintaining the status quo on three other issues- Statehood, two Parliamentary seats and setting up of the Public Services Commission (PSC), the sources said, adding there are certain provisions of Sixth Schedule which don’t pertain to Ladakh.
The LAB and KDA were advised by the MHA to ask for only those provisions of Sixth Schedule which are beneficial for Ladakh and the two bodies have agreed to it.
They are likely to submit a join document of their demands and concerns to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, before the next round of talks begin as asked for by the MHA.
The proposed amendment in the LAHDC Act to grant legislative powers to LAHDCs of Leh and Kargil on subjects such as Land, Employment, Environment, Culture and Language etc acknowledging the aspirations of the people of Ladakh for constitutional safeguards are also under consideration of the Centre, the sources said.
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