New Delhi: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has announced that he will begin a 28-day fast starting on August 15, Independence Day. This fast is to urge the government to engage in talks with Ladakh authorities about statehood and constitutional protections for the union territory.Earlier this year, Wangchuk undertook a 21-day fast, subsisting only on salt and water, to advocate for Ladakhs inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. According to him, this inclusion would help protect the region from the adverse impacts of greedy industries.Memorandum submitted to PM ModiWangchuk mentioned that the Apex Body, Leh (ABL), and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Dras for the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. The memorandum outlines their demands for statehood and protection.We hoped the government would take concrete steps following the elections. If they dont invite our leaders for talks, we will start another round of protests, Wangchuk said.Governments withdrawal of promisesAccording to Wangchuk, the government has backtracked on its promises to grant tribal area status and full statehood to Ladakh. He claims this change is due to pressure from industrialists aiming to exploit the regions resources.He also alleged that land is being allocated for solar power projects without the consent of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). The powers of the LAHDC are being diluted, and clearances are being issued from the top. Thats why the people of Ladakh are scared, he added.Ladakh: Solar power generation hotspotLadakhs potential for solar power generation is notable, with around 320 sunny days per year and an average daily solar radiation of 2022 kWh/m² per annum. The region could potentially generate 35 GW from solar energy and 100 GW from wind energy.The government has already approved a 13GW renewable energy project, including a 7.5GW solar park in Ladakh. Wangchuk supports clean energy but insists that it should not come at the expense of local people and wildlife. We cannot take away their pasture lands, he stated.Concerns over climate commitmentsWangchuk expressed disappointment with the Modi governments climate actions, despite their bold announcements. They banned single-use plastics and declared Ladakh carbon neutral, but not much is happening on the ground, he said.He criticized the governments climate goals, noting that the target of becoming a net-zero economy by 2070 is too distant. He also expressed concern over discussions about expanding coal power usage.
