"All Is Not Well In Ladakh": Man who inspired '3 Idiots' calls out to PM, people
Leh: Sonam Wangchuk, the social reformist from Ladakh whose life story inspired the Hindi movie ‘3 Idiots’, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the safety and protection of Ladakh since studies have suggested that about two-thirds of the glaciers here are moving towards extinction.
Wangchuk on Sunday said that if the careless moves continued and Ladakh is denied protection from industries, the glaciers will die out, adding to the intense problems due to water scarcity in India and neighbouring regions, reports NDTV.
The reformist pointed out that if measures were not taken, industries, tourism and commerce will continue to flourish in Ladakh, but also destroy it. “Recent studies from Kashmir University and other research organizations have concluded that glaciers in Leh-Ladakh will finish nearly to its 2/3rd if they are not properly taken care of. A study by Kashmir Univesity has found that the glaciers surrounded by highways and human activities are melting at a comparatively faster rate,” he added.
Wangchuk further said that the climate change was not the outcome of merely the global warming due to work in America and Europe. Local pollution and emissions were equally responsible for such problems to Ladakh. “In areas like Ladakh, there should be minimal human activities so that the glaciers can remain intact for the locals here and the country across," he stressed.
Also pointing out the importance of the need for adoption of sustainable development, the reformist ‘urgently’ requested Modi to ensure Ladakh and other Himalayan regions are protected from ‘industrial exploitation’, as it will safeguard the lives and employment of the locals. He highlighted to PM Modi to intervene and safeguard the ecosystem under the sixth schedule of the Indian constitution.
Wangchuk, however, also pointed out that the citizens too have an equal responsibility towards mitigation of climate change and should be equally concerned about the matter. In a 13-minute video shared on his YouTube channel Wangchuk ‘urgently’ appealed to Indians and the people of the world to help protect the "environmentally sensitive" region of Ladakh.
He laid stress on adapting to sustainable modes of living and on using resources to meet the current development goals but preserving them for the future generations so that nature could continue providing the resources and services to human beings.
He appealed to children to avoid wasting food and clothes as it would harm the environment.
"ALL IS NOT WELL in Ladakh! In my latest video I appeal to @narendramodi ji to intervene & give safeguards to eco-fragile Ladakh. To draw attention of Govt & the world I plan to sit on a 5 day #ClimateFast from 26 Jan at Khardungla pass at 18000ft -40 degree C," he said in a Tweet.
Wangchuk also said that, in order to pass his message to PM Modi and the people on Republic Day, he would sit on a five-day fast at the Khardongla Pass.
"I will hold this 5-day long fast (Sanketik Anshan) at the Khardongla pass at a temperature of minus 40 degrees to deliver my message that these glaciers will not live anymore if we continued doing such hazards to the Earth," he said.
He also posted on Twitter, "A TEST RUN for my #ClimateFast at #Khardungla 18,000 ft minus 40 degrees Celsius starting 26th January... But the test is on my rooftop at #HIAL Phyang at 11,500 ft Will update about the -20 experience in the morning #SaveLadakh."
Born in 1966, Wangchuk, a mechanical engineer and Director of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), was a recipient of the Magsaysay Award in the year 2018.
Wangchuk's personality inspired the fictional character of Phunsukh Wangdu essayed by Aamir Khan in the 2009 film.
ALL IS NOT WELL in Ladakh!
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) January 21, 2023
In my latest video I appeal to @narendramodi ji to intervene & give safeguards to eco-fragile Ladakh.
To draw attention of Govt & the world I plan to sit on a 5 day #ClimateFast from 26 Jan at Khardungla pass at 18000ft -40 °Chttps://t.co/ECi3YlB9kU
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234 held in anti-drug operation in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 15 (PTI): The Kerala police on Saturday said as part of its special drive to crack down on individuals suspected of drug trafficking, 234 people were arrested, and varying quantities of several deadly narcotics, including MDMA, were seized.
The State Police Media Centre (SPMC) stated that on March 14, as part of the drive, D-Hunt, authorities inspected 2,362 individuals suspected of drug trafficking and arrested 234 of them.
The operation was carried out across the state to identify and take strict legal action against those involved in the storage and distribution of banned drugs.
Police registered 222 cases related to the possession of various prohibited substances, according to a statement issued by the SPMC.
Additionally, authorities seized 0.0119 kg of MDMA, 6.171 kg of cannabis, and 167 cannabis 'beedis' from those arrested.
Operation D-Hunt is being jointly implemented by the Range-based NDPS Coordination Cell and District Police Chiefs under the leadership of State Anti-Narcotics Task Force Head and ADGP (Law and Order) Manoj Abraham, following the instructions of State Police Chief Dr Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, the statement said.
The SPMC also announced that a 24-hour Anti-Narcotics Control Room (9497927797) has been set up to receive information from the public regarding drug-related activities.
The details of individuals who contact this number will be kept confidential, it added.
Furthermore, the operation will continue in the coming days through sustained surveillance and the creation of a database of individuals regularly involved in drug-related activities and transactions.
