KL Report
SRINAGAR
Chinese Red Army encroaching pastures in Ladakh every summer is a routine. While it has always been making news, nobody felt attracted towards the other encroachment by Himacahal Pardesh.
That is exactly what a senior member of the legislative council Nurboo Giachan revealed on Saturday. He moved a calling attention motion seeking formal demarcation of the inter-state borders so that it does not create an ugly situation in coming days.
Nurboo said the crisis is reported from Sercho area of Nyoma block that borders three areas: Leh’s Nyoma, Kargil’s Zanskar and Himachal’s Lahul Spiti belt. While scores of herdsmen are encroaching upon the Ladakh territory, some from the neighboring state are erecting makeshift tea-stalls and other commercial facilities during summers when tourist traffic is on that side.
“They have got at least six kilometers inside our territory,” Nurboo later told reporters. “There have been verbal duels between the two sides this summer as the Himachal encroachers are staking clam over the meadows and pastures.” He said the area, if left unattended, could trigger a serious law and order crisis.
“The district administration Leh is already ceased of the matter,” the government said in a formal response. “Since the area falls on the border of Leh and adjoining district of Himachal Pardesh, generally people cross over to either side for garzing their cattle.”
State’s revenue ministry said the district administration in Leh has been asked to pursue the matter vigorously to ensure no permanent encroachment takes place in the area. “The issue of demarcation of boundary between Leh and Himachal Pardesh is being discussed between the district administrations of both the states to resolve the dispute,” the ministry stated in the house.
