Indian member of parliament from Ladakh region of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Haji Hanifa Jan has raised concerns over a drastic reduction in the region’s budget allocation, claiming a Rs 976 crore cut in the revised budget for 2024-25 compared to the original estimate.
According to a Kashmir Media Service report today, citing an Office Memorandum issued by the Ladakh administration , Jan highlighted that the allocation for the capital component has been slashed from Rs 3,076.16 crore to Rs 2,100 crore. He emphasized that this reduction impacts key sectors, including State Sector projects, Special Development Packages (SDPs), and funding for Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) in Leh and Kargil.
‘This is a matter of concern, especially as Ladakh has consistently utilized its allocated budget efficiently across various sectors, particularly under District CAPEX plans,’ the MP stated.
Jan warned that the reduction jeopardizes infrastructure development in critical areas such as roads, drinking water, renewable energy, health, education, and telecommunications, risking a slowdown in the region’s progress.