Ladakh Development vs Destruction: At a conference on ‘Sustainable Development’ in Ladakh, environmental thinker and writer Rajesh Kalra warned that increasing tourism and uncontrolled development is damaging the natural balance of Ladakh. He said that development is necessary, but it is incomplete without saving the nature and culture of Ladakh.
Sustainable Development of Ladakh: Every year lakhs of tourists go to Ladakh to see the beautiful valleys, blue lakes and snowy mountains. But are we going to see Ladakh or destroy it slowly? On the occasion of World Environment Day (World Environment Day 2026) on June 5, a special summit organized in Ladakh has exposed this bitter truth. A conference was organized in Ladakh on the topic ‘Sustainable Development of Ladakh’. Leaders from across the country and the world participated in this summit organized by the Sustainable Ladakh Initiative Foundation. But the most talked about speech was that of Indian environmental thinker and writer Rajesh Kalra, who expressed concern over the crisis arising out of tourism and modern development. Recently, while sharing his experience of cycling in the highest areas of Ladakh, he said some things which are enough to open the eyes of every tourist and the government.
‘We are killing Ladakh with love’- Rajesh Kalra
Rajesh Kalra said in clear words that the real beauty of Ladakh is not just its high mountains, but its peaceful environment, local culture and natural balance. But today this balance is in complete danger. He told that the permanent population of Ladakh is hardly 3 lakhs, but the number of tourists coming every year is many times more than this. Earlier people used to come only in summer, but now tourists are coming all twelve months of the year. outcome? This delicate land is not getting even a day’s time (Rest Cycle) to breathe or take care of itself. He further said that people cross the mountains in closed vehicles (SUVs) with the windows rolled up, listening to music. They are not going there to experience Ladakh but just to make reels and selfies.
Urban luxury culture biggest concern
The sharpest attack of the speech was on the rapidly growing ‘urban luxury culture’ in Ladakh. In a cold desert like Leh, every drop of water is very precious. Water here is mainly dependent on glaciers, snow and small natural streams, which are drying up prematurely every year. He said, ‘Today new hotels in Ladakh are making claims of ‘heated swimming pool’ at an altitude of 11,000 feet and 24-hour hot water. Bathtubs are being installed in places where every liter of water has been borrowed from the melting glacier! Water packed in plastic bottles is being brought to the mountains from the plains in trucks. We have considered travel only for our physical comfort.
Developed India 2047 and existence of Ladakh
Rajesh Kalra clarified that he is not at all in favor of keeping Ladakh backward. The indigenous people of Ladakh also have every right to good roads, electricity, schools, hospitals and good income. But there is a huge difference between development and disfigurement. A developed and strong country is one that preserves the diversity of its places, rather than turning every beautiful place into a concrete jungle like Mumbai or Dubai. The yardstick of Developed India 2047 should not be how many new hotels we build in Ladakh or how many swimming pools we fill. The yardstick should be whether Ladakh will really look like ‘Ladakh’ even in the year 2047?
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