LEH: The Ladakh administration has cancelled land allotment to Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL) here, drawing a strong reaction from its founder and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk who termed it as “witch-hunt” to suppress the demand of the people for statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the Union Territory.
Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is spearheading an agitation in support of the demand over the past four years, also criticised the decision and said they will not remain silent and any consequences will rest with those trying to “suppress our voice”.
Leh Deputy Commissioner Romil Singh Donk in his order on August 21 said 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 the Tehsildar, Leh, shall 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”.
