Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 17
Launching the supply chain of special winter-grade diesel for high-altitude Ladakh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said the fuel, which has been developed by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), will address the problem of loss of energy source during extreme winter conditions.
Further noting that the abrogation of Article 370 and creation of Union Territory of Ladakh were in the direction of bringing all-round development, Shah said, new hydro electric and solar power projects planned for the UT at a cost of Rs50,000 crore would produce 7,500 MW power and would be completed in the next four years.
“The NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to bringing the Leh-Ladakh region, which was neglected for the last 70 years, on a par with the rest of the country,” he said.
The Home Minister said when the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of J&K, was announced, the Prime Minister had said it was a right step to accelerate development in the region.
On August 5, the Home Minister had announced the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two UTs — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, which came into existence on October 31.
Shah said by bringing change in the status of Ladakh and enhancing the budget allocation, all-round development of the region had been ensured, which would be further strengthened by the newly introduced provisions of local taxation.
Referring to a series of developmental measures taken by the Modi government in the last five years, including the Srinagar-Leh transmission line for electricity, 14 solar projects for Leh and Kargil, Ladakh University, five new tourist circuits and tracks for tourists and mountaineers, Shah said people of Ladakh, Leh and Kargil would now enjoy the same rights and would be equal partners in the country’s development.
