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Heritage and Problem Identification Walk around Old Town
Friday July 08, 2011
As an outcome of the Wash Exhibition a walk with Old Town residents and other stakeholders was organized in collaboration with LAHDC Leh, which was presided over by CEC ShriRigzinSpalbar under ‘Heritage and Problem Identification Walk’.
It was an attempt to help Old Town regain some of its former glory. With the Leh palace and many Gompas, the Jama Mosque and other religious structures within its boundaries the need for OldTown to have its sanitation and hygiene issues upgraded was felt to be very essential. Drainage, Stray Dogs, Garbage and Toilets were the issues to be focused on.
The labyrinth of houses and pathways in Old Town is now a cause for major congestion due to over population and the dilapidated conditions of houses. With most of the original residents gone, many of the buildings, pathways and passageways in OldTown are in poor condition. The houses that they rent usually do not provide toilet and bathroom facilities resulting in at low levels of hygiene and sanitation.
In preparation for the walk with Old Town residents, the CEC and other concerned stakeholders, a walk was taken with MiriyamTak of Old Town with the help of which lists were drawn about those places identified as the most effected by the issues stated above. Other important resource persons such as Mohammad Hassan, resident of Stalam, OldTown, were also consulted.
Some of the concerned departments and stakeholders who participated in the walk were PHE, NAC, R&B, Gonpa Association, Muslim Associations, INTACH, LOTI, ASI besides the residents of Old Town.
The walk began from north side of Polo Ground – (through cinema Hall) -ManeyKhang–(past Suku House) LalChang Passageway – Up the Shangara Passageway towards KurgonGompa – Munshi House (presentation and meeting) – Downhill towards sRangChambaGompa (passing by blocked passageway near Yusuf Bijal’s House) – past Goba Paley’s house and towards Stalam – Up to KagalingManey area (through path passing Kattar House) – down towards IsheyTsering House area – further down to large open area now filled with drain water (Saraban property) – up the road towards Polo Ground near Palace View Guest House – down main road into NauShar (to a drain site) – through NauShar gully (past Community Hall) – ManeyKhang market area – up toGurudwaraarea-(where the present government-set garbage dump for the community exists).
Meeting at LAMO Centre
The meeting at LAMO Centre comprised a presentation prepared by LAMO about Drainage, Sanitation and Hygiene in OldTown. This spoke about some basic issues that LAMO came across while talking to OldTown residents namely Garbage, Drainage, Stray dogs and lack of toilets. The presentation also included lists of identified places which were most effected by these issues.
LOTI/THF followed up with a presentation about their work in OldTown. Especially speaking about the poor drainage system they came across during their restoration work. They ended with expressing concern about the possibility of diverting traffic from the main market to the OldTown from a heritage point of view.
In the meeting that followed, the CEC, Sri RigzinSpalbar spoke about the responsibility that the residents of Old Town have to take for the upkeep of their neighbourhood, since it is they who are most effected. Changing times have also contributed to the amount and type of waste that gets produced from homes in Ladakh, which calls for awareness, action and responsibility regarding garbage disposal at the household level.
After identifying the different problem areas and issues during the walk in Old Town,LOTI/THF, HCHF and LAMO were the NGOs he mentioned among other bodies such as the PHE, Tourism, R&B, and Electric Department who were responsible for keeping Old Town clean. The CEC emphasized on the cooperation between all the stakeholders for keeping Old Town clean which includes residents as wells as government departments and the concerned NGOs.
A cleanup drive would take place on 13th July 2011, in which all concerned authorities, departments, residents, NGOs and other stakeholders would participate. Rajesh Pradhan, architect from Sikkim, who revamped MG Marg in Gangtok, Sikkim, accompanied us on the walk. His visit to Leh would help the administration as well as the public get an idea of what situation Gangtok was in and how they tackled issues to fix their main market road as they had problems of congestion, drainage, wiring, garbage, dogs which are similar to the ones in Old Town.
Representatives from different areas of Old Town who would be at the forefront of this drive were chosen. Their responsibility would be to spread awareness among the residents of Old Town, both non tenants and tenants about littering, hygiene and sanitation. They would also have to report to the NAC, PHE, or other concerned departments about problems or issues faced in the future with a report.They are in charge of organizing meetings or gathering people for community activities such as this walk. These representatives would be therefore ultimately responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of Old Town.
Copyright LAMO 2010