Zanskar has been awarded three more seats on Kargil LAHDC, bringing their total to 6 (although with the inclusion of Executive Councillor, Tourism and Industries, Sonam Namgyal, Zanskar will have a total of seven representatives on the LAHDC Kargil). Reported in a number of publications, including T Morup's excellent 'The Magpie', the granting of three additional seats caused so much dissatisfaction amongst Kargil District's Muslim majority that a general strike was called last Sunday (13th May). The bone of contention is that more populated areas of Kargil District were overlooked in favour of (Buddhist majority) Zanskar Sub-Division.

Although I would generally support Zanskar's corner (Kargil administration more often that not gives Zanskar a rough ride), I do have a degree of sympathy for Kargil's disgruntled majority. In a District of around 120,000 people, Zanskaris constitute just over 12,000. Yet, per capita, Zanskaris now command approximately twice as many Councillor seats than any other Kargil Block. To give credit to Zanskar there are many people on the ground who have been fighting for more representation since the granting of LAHDC status to Kargil in 2003. The realist in me wonders why Kargil has made this seemingly generous political move. Perhaps word on the ground will shed more light on this - I'm heading out to Zanskar in a weeks time.

Signing off until July.

Discussions are taking place to organise the flight of a relic of Lord Buddha into Zanskar for a two day darshan in early July. This will follow a 13 day viewing in Leh. Watch this space for confirmation of dates!

For the third year running it looks as though Zangskari agricultural activity will again be hampered by locusts. In the words of one Zangskari "the menace has awakened". Sightings of locust nymphs have been reported from Karsha and Phey and settlements across Junkhor. Large numbers of buried eggs have also been discovered in affected areas. The Chief Agricultural Officer Kargil has ordered 3000L of chlorpyriphos pesticide and additional quantities of malathion to combat the problem.

If locust mobility and resilience in Zangskar is indicative of the locusts also present in Hanle area, concerns must also be running high in Leh and Kargil, and the extensive cultivated areas along the Indus and Suru valleys.

A full report on Locust activities in summer 2006 can be found in Ladakh Studies 21, (February 2007) pp27-29.

Reported in Daily Excelsior various Councillors are pushing for the initiation of Zanskar's Tourism Development Authority. Confirmed in July last year, the Development Authority is headed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Zanskar. The objective (brace yourself if you are a counterculture fan) is to develop Zanskar's tourist infrastructure with funding (20 crore Rupees/£2.5 million according to the BDO in an interview last summer) being released over 4 years through the Rural Development Department and the Public Works Department (PWD). In an interview with the SDM in September 2006 plans for the use of the money were not confirmed, although rumours at the village level already linked the cornering of funds by Zanskar's larger monasteries. Admittedly these are significant tourist attractions, however, from a personal perspective, I would say that Padum would benefit from rubbish/litter management facilities and improved communications (especially reliable telephone and internet) to facilitate the relationship between tourists and Zanskari trekking and tour guides. Formal campsites, fodder supplies for trekking horses, litter facilities, improved water supplies and 'Ladakhi toilets' which are emptied/maintained, would also be a bonus for every village in Zanskar that is on a busy trekking route.

Other demands focus on more seats on LAHDC Kargil (there are currently three for Zanskar), new irrigation projects, improvements to education, and the provision of allopathic dispensaries in Stod, Lungnak and Sham.