Ladakh, April 29
Religious bodies and stakeholders, in a joint letter to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena, have urged him to reconsider and hold the proposed joint venture in the power sector between LDPP and RECPDCL in its present form. A meeting of religious bodies and key stakeholders of Ladakh was held under the chairmanship of Shailendra Dubey, Chairman, All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), regarding the proposed joint venture between RECPDCL and Ladakh Power Development Department on the evening of April 28. The meeting was attended by LBA, Ladakh Gompa Association, Anjuman-Imamia, Moin-Ul-Islam, Christian Association, Taxi Cooperative Union, Merchant Association, Ladakh Travel Trade, and Hotel and Guest House Association.
All these prominent religious organizations and public stakeholders of Ladakh participated in the meeting and jointly expressed serious concerns over the proposed move towards privatization of the power sector. The letter mentions that electricity in Ladakh is a basic necessity, especially in extreme winter conditions, and cannot be treated as a profit-driven commercial service. The proposed JV may lead to tariff hikes, adversely impacting common consumers, small businesses, and essential services. Public assets created over years through government investment should remain under public control. Ladakh’s unique geographical and socio-economic conditions require a tailored, people-centric approach rather than a standard commercial model. Further, employees’ pending HR issues must be resolved before any structural changes.
It may be mentioned that all participating organizations strongly supported the initiative taken by AIPEF and appreciated its proactive role in uniting stakeholders on this critical issue. They urged the Lieutenant Governor to reconsider/hold the proposed JV in its present form, ensure wide and transparent consultation with all stakeholders, explore alternative public-sector models to improve efficiency without privatization, and safeguard consumer interests and employee rights.
