Avtar Bhat
LEH (LADAKH), Apr 27: There seems to be no end to the miseries and sufferings of the people of Ladakh region even after about three years of cloudburst in August, 2010 as the Government has failed to rebuild the damaged infrastructure in the region.
The cloud burst created a havoc in Ladakh region in general and Leh district in particular as it resulted into heavy floods killing over 300 people, damaging over 300 residential houses fully and hundreds of others partially. Besides washing away hundreds of kanals of agriculture land, irrigation canals and bridges, it caused a heavy damage to the standing crops as well.
To provide a succor to the flood ravaged people of the region soon after the natural calamity, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited Leh and announced a relief package of Rs 125 crore for rehabilitation of the victims. The package consisted, an exgratia relief of Rs two lakh each for next kin of dead and Rs two lakh each as exgratia for fully damaged house, sources said.
They added the rest amount of the package was for construction of damaged hospitals, schools, roads, Government offices, bridges and irrigation canals in the Leh district. But people of the district today feel disappointed and dejected as no steps were taken by the authorities to built the damaged infrastructure in the Leh district.
Sources said the ex-gratia relief of Rs two lakh each was provided to the next kin of the dead as well as those whose houses were damaged in flood. Besides the schools, hospitals and Government offices were reconstructed but the work on re-construction of damaged bridges, irrigation canals and their head-works has not been started even till date, the sources added.
However the authorities uprightly rejected this saying that the rehabilitation package was meant for the victims of entire Ladakh region and it was not for the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure for which the separate projects were to be taken up in hand by State Government.
The authorities said that there is a misconception among the people that the package was for rebuilding of damaged infrastructure as well as rehabilitation of people. The relief to the victims cloud burst victims was provided by PMO through its own agencies. However some amount was provided to district administration for restoration of power supply to Leh and rebuilding of damaged hospital, the authorities added.
They said the damaged infrastructure was temporarily restored to provide a succor to the people.
But the sources said that there is a brewing resentment among the people of Leh district who feel betrayed and cheated by the Government for not restoring the damaged infrastructure which too was washed away by flash floods and same should have been the part of PM’s relief package. The Ladakh region is already backward and far behind in the sphere of development. Instead of taking new schemes and projects in hand for the welfare of the people of the region and its development, the Government has not even rebuilt the damaged infrastructure which has resulted into a public outcry, sources added.
Sources said the roads are still in damaged condition and bridges at various places on Leh nullah, Siyang nullah and irrigation head-works have not been re-constructed till date. The irrigation head works of one nullah has been damaged at three places and it has not been re-constructed. The temporary arrangements made for taking irrigating water to the fields is not workable, sources said. The Ladakh region is already deficit of agriculture land and the production in the region is very low. But that too was affected after the damage of the irrigation canals, sources added.
They said condition is worst in Nobra Valley which attracts tourists from entire globe as no work was undertaken so far.
Expressing concern over the indifferent attitude of the Government, sources said that there should be increase in district plan by 10 percent every year but it has not been made since 2010. The district plan which was Rs 71 crore for Leh in 2010 has touched Rs 73 crore last year while it should have been Rs 85 crore.
The cancellation of flights by Go Air which was running 14 flights per week has been also a cause of concern for the people of the Leh district, said Chewring Dorjay ex councilor.
He said it will affect the tourist flow to region as well as it has added to the problems of passengers.
He said the Chinese intrusion has been another cause of concern for the people as the nomads grazing their cattle and sheep in the pastures situated at high altitudes are hesitant to go there facing threat from Chinese troops. “We have been crying for years together against the Chinese intrusion in the region but Government paid no heed to it” he added.
He said the Chinese intrusion problem is there in Aksai Chin area and last year Chinese troops came 10 kilometers inside the Indian territory in Chamur area in two helicopters and destroyed 17 unmanned bunkers.
Rigzin Tangay a social activist of Denchok a last village near Chinese border said that with encroachment of the land by Chinese troops the nomads have lost pastures. He demanded the increasing of ITB force on the border to meet the Chinese threat. The ITBP men manning the border should also be provided with all modern equipments to match the Chinese troops, he added.
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