Zanskar, Feb 12: Leaders of Zanskar’s Buddhist and Muslim communities on Wednesday held a joint meeting with the local civil administration in Padum to press for immediate measures linked to power supply, winter road access, market availability and a pending memorandum on the Anti-Conversion Law.
The delegation, led by Tsering Dorjay, President of the Zanskar Buddhist Association, and Mohd Ramzan Khan, President of Anjuman Moen-Ul Islam, Zanskar, met Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rajendra Omkar Gundage and Tehsildar Mohd Hassan to place a series of community concerns before the authorities.
According to the delegation, additional electricity supply during early morning hours is required during the forthcoming holy month of Tangpo for the Buddhist community and Ramadan for the Muslim community. The representatives said that suitable timing for the additional power supply may be finalised shortly in consultation with the administration.
The delegation also sought assured availability of vegetables and other essential commodities in local markets during the religious period to prevent hardship to residents.
Winter road connectivity featured prominently in the discussions. The community leaders raised concerns over delays in snow clearance on the National Highway and interior link roads, stressing that road restoration must be carried out promptly and over a wider stretch to ensure safer and smoother movement of traffic. They underlined that regular commuters and government employees continue to face difficulty in reaching their workplaces during prolonged closures.
Special emphasis was laid on the opening of the Shinkula stretch on the NPD road during the winter months. The delegation said that students returning to their schools after winter vacations depend heavily on this route, which remains the shortest and most convenient corridor for the student community. The road was also described as vital for pilgrims travelling back to Zanskar.
The representatives further sought an update on the memorandum submitted on January 15 regarding the implementation of the Anti-Conversion Law in Ladakh. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate was requested to initiate necessary steps to ensure progress on the issue.
Officials present at the meeting assured the delegation that all concerns would be examined with due seriousness and that appropriate action would be considered in the public interest.
