SRINAGAR: The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, has cancelled the allotment of more than 1076 Kanal of land that had been granted to the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning, an initiative founded by noted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, in Phyang village.
According to an official order issued by Deputy Commissioner and CEO of LAHDC Leh, Romil Singh, the land has been escheated back to the State after the institute failed to utilise it for the purpose for which it was allotted.
The order said that the land had originally been sanctioned in May 2018 for the setting up of a University. However, it remained unused for over seven years, with the authorities recording several violations in the process. The order noted that no University was established on the site, no formal lease deed was executed, and the institute did not comply with requirements even after the allotment period lapsed on May 5, 2019.
Citing these violations, the Deputy Commissioner directed LAHDC officials and the Tehsildar Leh to remove all encumbrances from the land and update the revenue records at the earliest.
The move is being seen as a setback for the Himalayan Institute, which had earned recognition for its promotion of alternative education models in Ladakh, inspired by Wangchuk’s work in sustainable learning and eco-friendly innovation.
