Ladakh Sees Rising Protests as Infra Push Sparks Fears of Exclusion

Ladakh, India’s youngest Union Territory, is witnessing a surge of protests as locals push back against rapid infrastructure expansion they say is being imposed without their consent. A wave of centrally-driven projects — ranging from all-weather tunnels and high-altitude roads to a proposed 13-gigawatt solar park — has stirred anxieties over land, livelihoods, and the region’s fragile ecology.

The unrest came to a head last week in Leh, when police opened fire on demonstrators demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards, killing four people and injuring dozens. Since then, calls for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule and a public service commission have intensified, uniting Buddhist groups in Leh and Shia organisations in Kargil under a rare joint platform.

Development or Dispossession?

Officials highlight connectivity gains, pointing to more than 1,600 km of new or upgraded roads since 2019, with the Border Roads Organisation alone completing over 3,100 km across 43 routes. Projects like the Zojila tunnel, Shinku La pass tunnel, and Nyoma airfield expansion are billed as strategic lifelines, reducing isolation and strengthening India’s defence posture near the China border.

But on the ground, scepticism runs deep. “Whose development is it, if we have no say?” asked a monk in Zanskar’s Karsha monastery. Residents worry the projects serve Delhi’s security and energy goals, not local needs, while sparking fears of land loss and displacement. Survey teams mapping corridors for power projects and mining add to the unease.

Divided but Uneasy Consensus

Opinions, however, are not uniform. Some entrepreneurs and hoteliers welcome the projects, crediting new roads with cutting winter isolation and enabling supply access. “For the first time, we don’t wait months for essentials,” said Stanzin Dorje, a restaurant owner in Padum.

Yet others warn of irreversible costs. Erratic weather is already amplifying risks: Leh saw its wettest August in 52 years, with flash floods washing away new roads and disrupting air traffic. Locals who once called Ladakh a “cold desert” say climate patterns are collapsing, threatening both traditional livelihoods and eco-tourism.

A Region in Search of Voice

Activist Sonam Wangchuk and local youth groups argue that unless Ladakhis are given constitutional protections, “development will feel like control, not opportunity.” Despite government assurances of 85% job reservations and larger budgets, scepticism remains high.

As dusk settles in Karsha, a monk points to fresh survey markers on the ridges: “Development without voice is not development. It is something else. And we still do not know its name.”