Srinagar, Aug 26: For the third time in last three years, under the Chinese pressure the work on one more development project has been stopped in Demchok area of Leh district in Ladakh region, officials said.
 Official in Leh said work on the project was temporarily suspended and the authorities are trying to find out what had exactly happened.
 Sources said that the Chinese Army has reportedly asked the officials, contractor and other workers to suspend work on an irrigation project in Demchok area near the Actual Line of Actual Control (LAC).
 Officials said that the project had been started in 2004-05. Under the project, water according to officials, is to be transferred from the Indus River into a 3.5 km-long irrigation canal. The river water according official sources was also supposed to be used for developing pastures to help the local people, who earn livelihood by rearing cattle in these border areas.
 Official sources said that the latest incident is the third time in last three years that a major development project was stopped in Leh under Chinese pressure. “We had to suspend the construction of passenger sheds in same area in 2010 after their objection,” a state government official said adding that the matter was later reported to Army guarding the area. He added that another road project was abandoned by the state government after China's strong objection. “This is the third incident,” he said.
 District Development Commissioner (DDC) Leh T Angchuk told Greater Kashmir over telephone that the work has been stopped on the project and not abandoned. “The work has been stopped and not abandoned,” he said and added that the matter has been first reported by the concerned contractor. “We are verifying the facts and want to know what exactly has happened,” he said.
 DDC said that area where the site falls is located on India side. “There the river bisects the area and we are unable to understand what is the problem to them (China),” he said and added that yet there is local witness that they (Chinese) have crossed over to this side. “I have asked the army to be more vigilant and speed up the patrolling of the area. We are hopeful the work would be started on the project again,” T Angchuk said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST