At a time when India has ramped up its military presence in Ladakh, the Union territory administration has begun work to improve access to border monasteries like the ones in Choglamsar, Hemi and Stok on strategic border locations while building road connectivity to villages and establishing rural connectivity.
Keeping in mind the Narendra Modi government's focus on providing better connectivity to Buddhist sites, Ladakh Governor R.K. Mathur is aggressively pursuing projects to ramp up internal connectivity, which, in turn, can go a long way in building India as a cultural soft power.
Mathur, who served as former defence secretary, understands that connectivity to these monasteries and Buddhist sites not only plays a major role in countering Beijing’s attempts to misuse Himalayan Buddhism under its expansionist agenda, but also brings emotional and social integration of the Ladakhis, which strengthens the country's cultural fabric.
Saugat Biswas, the Divisional Commissioner of Ladakh, told THE WEEK that the UT administration is focusing on increasing road connectivity in the border areas and border villages and laying special emphasis on rural roads. ''The administration is planning to spend substantial amount of funds on getting the villages connected. We have an extensive plan for this year, which will be launched very soon and as we go along in the coming years, we will invest in road connectivity in a big way,” he said.
The newly formed Union territory has got Rs 62 crore under the special Border Area Development Plan of the Union home ministry to bring development in border areas by supplementing state funds. The Union territory administration already has Rs 45 crore in its kitty.
Biswas said tourism is already an industry in Ladakh and the road infrastructure is fairly good, but the administration plans to improve it further to connect monasteries and boost tourist inflow. ''We are planning to improve it not only by means of road connectivity but also various other modes of transport like chopper services or even exploring possibilities of using gondolas.''
Last week, Mathur inaugurated the first double-lane bridge on river Indus at Choglamsar. While the local residents of the nearby villages like Stok and Chuchot are happy that their daily commute to schools and work has become shorter, the civil administration is going a step further to develop Choglamsar as a major hub.
The beautiful Tibetan refugee settlement is a centre for the study of Tibetan culture and history.
“In the coming days , Choglamsar will be developed as a major town of Leh. It is the biggest heritage centre of Tibetan Buddhism and once it gets proper road connectivity, it will be a major tourist centre,” said Nisar Ahmad, executive engineer in the Public Works Department in Leh. The double-lane bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 821.90 lakh connects Stakna, Matho and Stok monasteries.
The UT administration has already sanctioned construction of four more bridges over river Indus that will further improve connectivity to numerous other monasteries along the Himalayan belt as well as provide relief to local population.
''Approximately 90 percent of the monasteries have been provided with road connectivity. The aim is to provide full connectivity to all,'' he said.
The plans in the pipeline are a 60-meter-span single-lane bridge at Rampure to connect Thiksay with Chushut; 60-meter-span double-lane bridge at Palam to connect Leh with Palam and Sto; another 60-meter single-span bridge at Phey to connect with Rumbak, Rinchen and a 70-meter-span single-lane bridge at Zerthang Khalsi to connect the plateau proposed for construction of degree college and other establishments.
The civil administration's focus on building internal connectivity within Leh through roads and bridges will also provide a strong back-up to the Army by making movement of men and logistics easier and quicker.
''The main strength of the borders is not the Army but the local people and their culture, education and well-being,'' said Tenzin Tsundue, writer and Tibetan activist. He said that while Buddhism has always been there in Ladakh and in the Himalayas, the vested political interests had prevented it from getting due recognition.
''Nurturing the diverse culture and languages and respecting their (Ladakhis’) unique culture and contribution will truly boost national integration,'' he said.