How are relations between the Muslim and Buddhist populations?
We have normal and cordial relations like in the old days. Of course sometimes there are local incidents. We had an incident two years ago in a place called Both Karbu, tensions cropped up and anti-social elements tried to instigate trouble, but in general relations are good. Has the J&K government implemented Panchayati Raj? No, the act has never been placed on the table of the assembly. In Ladakh, it is partially in place because the hills councils served as the zilla parishads as per the Hill Council Act. But we still would like to form block level committees. We have told them (in Srinagar), ‘If you don’t want to do it for Kashmir Valley, at least do it for Ladakh’. They have not done it so far. I am told that the environment of Ladakh is changing due to climate change. The quantity of rain and snow remains more or less the same. But it seems we get lesser snowfall in winter and more rain in summer and often unseasonal rains. Also, we have witnessed a lot of cloud bursts which were
