Administration cancels land lease of Sonam Wangchuk's HIAL, activist terms it 'attack on Ladakh'

SRINAGAR: The Ladakh administration ’s move to cancel the land allotment of Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), founded by environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk , has led to sharp criticism from the region’s two biggest political movements --- Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).

“We believe this is a witch hunt. It seems like a conspiracy to harass and intimidate people,” LAB representatives said at a press conference in Leh. “Sonam Wangchuk is very vocal about the rights of the people of Ladakh at national and international level. We see this as an attempt to silence the voices of Ladakh one by one. But we will not be scared. All leadership stands with him.”

Wangchuk, on his part, termed the administration’s move as an attack on Ladakh itself. “It is not an attack on Sonam Wangchuk, but on Ladakh. It is an attack on the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance,” he said.

LAB and KDA, formed in 2020, represent political and religious groups from Leh and Kargil. Both have been demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Since the abrogation of Article 370 on Aug 5, 2019, and the bifurcation of the J&K state into the two UTs — J&K and Ladakh — the Ladakh region has witnessed a series of political agitations for the Sixth Schedule and statehood. Wangchuk has led several such protests, holding long fasts and long marches.

On Jan 2, 2023, the ministry of home affairs set up a high-powered committee to address key issues in Ladakh, including the Sixth Schedule. The last round of talks, between the Centre’s high-powered committee and the Ladakhi leaders was held on May 27, leading to the introduction of a domicile policy.

On Aug 11, LAB and KDA launched a three-day protest in Kargil, led by Wangchuk, demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.

On Aug 21, Leh deputy commissioner Romil Singh Donk issued an order stating that the land measuring 1,076 kanal and 1 marla (over 53.8 hectares) allotted to HIAL “stands escheated to the State, i.e., LAHDC (Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council)”, and directed the Leh tehsildar to “remove all the encumbrances from the said piece of state land as per provisions of the law, and effect entries in the revenue record accordingly”.

The order said the land in Phyang was given to HIAL on lease for 40 years, but it has not been used for the purpose allotted, “as no university (as recognised by law) has been set up” to date.

Wangchuk, while talking to reporters, said HIAL was created in 2018 with the support of Ladakh leaders after the success of the “ice stupa” project, which was aimed at addressing Ladakh’s water crisis. “The land was leased to the HIAL under unanimous consensus of Ladakhi leaders. It is a charitable company, not my personal university,” Wangchuk said. “The allotment was given in 2018, and now, suddenly, the Ladakh administration says it is not serving its purpose.”

He said 400 students have passed out from HIAL. “The cancellation of the land lease at this juncture, when Ladakhi leaders are seeking safeguards for the region, shows a design. HIAL is the pride of not just Ladakh but of the whole Himalayas,” he added.