Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has announced that his administration will focus on turning Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield, and the strategic Galwan Valley into new tourism attractions in the Union Territory.
He praised Ladakh’s beauty, stating that it is “far more beautiful than Switzerland” and has the potential to emerge as one of the leading destinations in the country.
Gupta said, “Siachen and Galwan are being developed to promote tourism, thereby offering visitors a unique opportunity to witness the unmatched natural beauty as well as the spirit of courage and sacrifice associated with Ladakh’s frontier regions.” He said his focus would also be on promoting adventure, religious, and spiritual tourism in Ladakh.
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The Central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has entrusted him with the responsibility of serving as the head of the Ladakh UT.
“Though there are several challenges before us, I firmly believe that massive change will be witnessed in the region in the coming years,” Gupta said. “I am determined to ensure that Ladakh not only showcases its breathtaking landscapes but also its rich heritage, vibrant culture, and traditions before the world.”
Gupta said Ladakh had been subjected to “neglect and discrimination” for decades, but the Central government fulfilled the aspirations of its people by creating a separate UT.
However, he didn’t mention that many people in Ladakh are not happy with the current arrangement and are demanding statehood, extension of the Sixth Schedule and job guarantees, which were promised to them by the same Union government in 2019.
People of Ladakh, under the leadership of its two key representative bodies, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), have held several rounds of negotiations with the Centre-nominated high-powered committee, though each time the negotiations ended in deadlock.
Meanwhile, India has been building roads and infrastructure in the strategic areas of Ladakh, which have remained a point of friction between China and India since 2019.
The strategic roads include Daulat Beigh oldie and Darbok Shyok road, popularly known as DSDBO among the military and defence circles.
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