Online Campaign For Zojila Tunnel
By Javed Naqi
21 February, 2012
Countercurrents.org
KARGIL/ NEW DELHI– The long struggle toward purging Ladakh from isolation took a giant leap forward with an online campaign on Change.org helping to deliver voices of 370 concerned citizens from Jammu & Kashmir. Ladakh is connected to the Kashmir valley and rest of the world via Zojila Pass, which becomes inaccessible in winters due to heavy snowfall. The people of Ladakh and Kargil in particular have been demanding the construction of a tunnel through the Zojila Pass or an all weather road for decades.
Zojila Watch, a youth group formed to struggle for greater accessibility to Ladakh region, started the petition on Change.org, and in just 10 days received hundreds of concerned individuals to support the campaign.
Members of Zojila Watch team, Javed Naqi and Shahnawaz met the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Dr. C. P. Joshi, at his residence and presented a copy of the petition signed by 370 youths from Jammu and Kashmir urging the ministry to make swift moves in the construction of Zojila tunnel and to monitor the construction. The delegation apprised the Minister about the harsh implications of winter isolation on the local population and recommended him to release Detailed Project Report while simultaneously initiating work on both the phases of the tunnel. The delegation also advocated the importance of Baltal-Maenamarg tunnel and requested the Minister to prioritise the Baltal-Maenamarg tunnel.
After receiving the petition and having a detailed meeting with the team, Dr. C.P. Joshi made a statement saying “ The Indian Govt. is keen on connecting the Zojila Tunnel, Rahul Gandhi has shown personal interest in getting work started on this project” When asked for a deadline and details of the the delay he replied “The foundation stone of the first phase of the tunnel will be laid before September and since we re keeping in mind the safety & technical processes in mind the exact date for the construction of the second tunnel which connects Kargil to Kashmir valley will depend on the Detailed Project Report (DPR). We have already putting pressure to get the DPR report as soon as possible, Kargil dreams will come true, I can assure that.”
After the meeting with the Union Minister Javed Naqi said, "We’ll continue our fight to connect Ladakh on different forums unless and until we see the dream tunnel in place".
Change.org Campaigner Tamseel Hussain said Change.org was a platform that empowers anyone, anywhere to start a campaign on issues that matter to them. “It has been incredible to watch these young people from Kargil take their message to the Union Ministry of Road & Transport and fulfill their dream to build the Zojila Tunnel.”
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