Ladakh seeks resumption of flights, opening of schools
Centre urged to support tourism industry in Ladakh UT
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 27: The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir isn’t averse to Central Government giving relaxations in Orange and Green Zones while keeping restrictions in Red Zones with a view to give boost to economic activities after May 3 when second phase of lockdown will end while the UT of Ladakh has favoured resumption of regular air services to Leh from New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar, opening of colleges and institutes of higher education besides schools for 10th, 11th and 12th classes under strict enforcement of social distancing and education through Radio and e-classes for the rest.
The Union Territory of Ladakh has also sought necessary measures from the Central Government to support the tourism industry in the UT on the ground that tourism sector including hotels, guest houses, home stays, travel agencies and taxi operators contributes more than 50 percent to the GDP.
“The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will, however, go by the decisions taken by the Central Government on relaxations post May 3,” sources said, adding J&K is not averse to certain more relaxations to boost economic activity with conditions of strict social distancing etc in Orange and Green Zones.
However, it wants restrictions to stay in Red Zones and Hotspot districts for the time being unless they are taken out of the categories following recoveries of the Coronavirus patients and non-reporting of more cases for some days.
Jammu is the only Hotspot district in the Jammu region as Udhampur was recently taken out of the category. Udhampur has now seven COVID-19 patients only and hasn’t reported fresh case for quite some time.
“Restrictions on public meetings, processions, large gatherings, marriages, opening of Malls, cinema halls, educational institutions etc might continue for quite some time,” sources pointed out and said relaxation in curbs will be generally aimed at facilitating economic activity and engaging workers in employment in the Union Territory.
It may be mentioned here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with some Chief Ministers of the States and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Girish Chandra Murmu through video conferencing to elicit opinion of the States/Union Territories on post-lockdown scenario.
Modi had announced 21 days lockdown on March 24 which ended on April 14 and was further extended till May 3.
Murmu is reported to have given his viewpoint on the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir in view of breakout of Coronavirus pandemic as total cases in the UT were nearing 550 with Kashmir’s tally alone about to touch 500.
Meanwhile, the Union Territory of Ladakh has submitted a comprehensive document to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs giving series of suggestions for opening of lockdown, post May 3.
“The suggestions have been duly considered and approved by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Radha Krishna Mathur,” the document signed by Saugat Biswas, Divisional Commissioner Ladakh, said.
With a view to prevent irreparable loss to students of higher classes, the UT Ladakh administration has recommended opening of schools for Classes 10th, 11th and 12th under strict enforcement of social distancing. For rest of the classes, it has suggested education through Radio and e-classes.
“Schools in Ladakh were scheduled to reopen in the first week of March after a long winter vacation. Unlike the mainland, the summer vacation in the hilly region of Ladakh usually lasts 10-15 days in the month of July,” the UT administration pointed out.
It has recommended that regular air services from New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar be restarted on the lifting of lockdown on the ground that an estimated 30,000 people including patients, elderly, general visitors, pilgrims, students and labour belonging to Ladakh was stationed outside the Union Territory and awaiting lifting of lockdown so that they can come back to Ladakh.
“Road to Ladakh via Srinagar passes through innumerable Red Zones and is not safe for mass transit,” the document said, adding in the alternative, special flights of the India Air Force be operated from New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar to bring back stranded people to Ladakh in a planned manner.
Regarding opening of colleges and institutes of higher education including Polytechnics, ITIs etc, the administration has recommended that such institutions be opened and the number of transaction days i.e. days of contact learning be reduced to a basic minimum and staggered, covering the requirement of practical’s etc. All institutions will strictly follow the norms of social distancing.
It said all people coming into the Union Territory of Ladakh will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms at the points of arrival. Anybody showing symptom will be put under institutional quarantine. Rest of the people arriving till May 31 will be home quarantined for 14 days.
Asserting that tourism sector in Ladakh including hotels, guest houses, home stays, travel agencies and taxi operators constitute more than 50 percent of contributions to the GDP of the UT, the UT document said due to COVID, the sector is completely shut and is bearing heavy losses. It urged the Government of India to take necessary measures to support tourism industry of Ladakh with appropriate measures.
The UT administration said there are over 300 Ladakhi pilgrims still stuck in Iran who have completed their quarantine period and they should be flown to Ladakh at the earliest.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
