Troops object to welfare projects along LAC l Many works stopped midway, alleges councillor

Chinese soldiers hold a banner stating, “This is the Line of Actual Control. You are in Chinese territory.” File photo

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 6

At a time when China is accusing India of “trampling” on the Panchsheel principles following the Sikkim standoff, the neighbouring country continues to indulge in “unwarranted interference” in the villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region. According to Ladakhi people, villages along the LAC, an undemarcated boundary between India and China, have remained undeveloped due to “continuous and unwarranted interference” by Chinese troops. They said Chinese troops objected to the construction of roads, toilets, schools and other infrastructural projects that are being undertaken by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, which governs the district politically.“The working season remains short in Ladakh. During this period, we are not able to carry out activities smoothly because of direct interference of China. Many a time, we stop our development works midway as our Army personnel don’t allow it because of the Chinese interference,” Thupstan Wangchuk, the elected councillor of Nyoma Council constituency, told The Tribune.The councillor, who is a two-time winner of Nyoma segment, claimed that there was a vast and massive development on the other side of LAC where China had constructed roads and large buildings but “they (Chinese troops) don’t allow us to carry out development works on our own land”.“The ground situation has never been highlighted by local officers as well as media in the right perspective. We face underdevelopment because the Government of India has never taken care of the people living along the LAC. The public suffers because all important projects like construction of road, bridges and works under the MGNREGA face inordinate delay as we have to stop these works midway. New Delhi will have to take a tough stand if it wants to keep border villages in its control. We don’t know how much area of the Ladakh region they have usurped over the years,” Wangchuk said.He added, “There is virtually no development in four villages —- Demchok, Tsaga, Kouyal and Hanel along the LAC — in Nyoma constituency.” The Ladakh region has a 225-km-long Line of Control (LoC) and 955-km-long LAC that includes some portion of the international border and 122-km-long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) with China.Sonam Dawa Lonpo, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of LAHDC, Leh, said, “China has resorted to unwarranted interference in our villages as its troops object to the construction of medical and community centres. On their other side, they have constructed metalled roads, helipads and well-furnished cemented houses.”The CEC added, “They even objected to the Chota Kailash yatra being undertaken by 60-odd people to the Demchok area. Their interference has hampered the development in our villages.”Prasanna Ramaswamy G, Leh Deputy Commissioner, admitted that there was interference of the Chinese troops in “scattered areas” along the LAC. “Demchok is the main trouble area between the two sides.”Double standards

• Chinese troops object to the construction of even toilets, roads, schools and medical centres.
• On their side, they have constructed metalled roads, helipads and well-furnished cemented houses.
• There is virtually no development in four villages — Demchok, Tsaga, Kouyal and Hanel — along the LAC in Nyoma constituency

Chinese soldiers hold a banner stating, “This is the Line of Actual Control. You are in Chinese territory.” File photo Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, July 6 At a time when China is accusing India of “trampling” on the Panchsheel principles following the Sikkim standoff, the neighbouring country continues to indulge in “unwarranted interference” in the villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region. According to Ladakhi people, villages along the LAC, an undemarcated boundary between India and China, have remained undeveloped due to “continuous and unwarranted interference” by Chinese troops. They said Chinese troops objected to the construction of roads, toilets, schools and other infrastructural projects that are being undertaken by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, which governs the district politically. “The working season remains short in Ladakh. During this period, we are not able to carry out activities smoothly because of direct interference of China. Many a time, we stop our development works midway as our Army personnel don’t allow it because of the Chinese interference,” Thupstan Wangchuk, the elected councillor of Nyoma Council constituency, told The Tribune. The councillor, who is a two-time winner of Nyoma segment, claimed that there was a vast and massive development on the other side of LAC where China had constructed roads and large buildings but “they (Chinese troops) don’t allow us to carry out development works on our own land”. “The ground situation has never been highlighted by local officers as well as media in the right perspective. We face underdevelopment because the Government of India has never taken care of the people living along the LAC. The public suffers because all important projects like construction of road, bridges and works under the MGNREGA face inordinate delay as we have to stop these works midway. New Delhi will have to take a tough stand if it wants to keep border villages in its control. We don’t know how much area of the Ladakh region they have usurped over the years,” Wangchuk said. He added, “There is virtually no development in four villages —- Demchok, Tsaga, Kouyal and Hanel along the LAC — in Nyoma constituency.” The Ladakh region has a 225-km-long Line of Control (LoC) and 955-km-long LAC that includes some portion of the international border and 122-km-long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) with China. Sonam Dawa Lonpo, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of LAHDC, Leh, said, “China has resorted to unwarranted interference in our villages as its troops object to the construction of medical and community centres. On their other side, they have constructed metalled roads, helipads and well-furnished cemented houses.” The CEC added, “They even objected to the Chota Kailash yatra being undertaken by 60-odd people to the Demchok area. Their interference has hampered the development in our villages.” Prasanna Ramaswamy G, Leh Deputy Commissioner, admitted that there was interference of the Chinese troops in “scattered areas” along the LAC. “Demchok is the main trouble area between the two sides.” Double standards Chinese troops object to the construction of even toilets, roads, schools and medical centres.  On their side, they have constructed metalled roads, helipads and well-furnished cemented houses. There is virtually no development in four villages — Demchok, Tsaga, Kouyal and Hanel — along the LAC in Nyoma constituency