Administrative Secretary for Agriculture, Horticulture, Cooperatives, and Transport, Bupesh Chaudhary, and Administrative Secretary for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, IT, and Disaster Management, Shashanka Ala, visited the Drass Sub-Division on December 20 as part of a four-day official tour of the Kargil district.

The Administrative Secretaries were accompanied by Tsewang Punchok, Director of Horticulture; Razia Banoo, Assistant Commissioner Development (RDD); Zakir Hussain, Deputy Registrar Cooperatives; Mohd Zafar, Chief Horticulture Officer; Ashiq Hussain Basharat, Chief Agriculture Officer; Khadim Hussain, ARTO; and Vishal Atri, SDM Drass, along with other Block Officers of the sub-division.

The visit commenced with a review of the Cooperative Supermarket in Kargil Bazaar. Bupesh Chaudhary urged the Deputy Registrar of Cooperatives to ensure the availability of products from local farmers and artisans at these stores. He also encouraged members of cooperative societies to focus on increasing their annual profits. Additionally, he instructed the concerned departments to upgrade facilities to better serve the public and foster growth in the cooperative sector.

The Administrative Secretaries then visited the Apricot Processing Centre at Kharul Hardass, where they assessed operational progress and discussed strategies to enhance the unit's efficiency. Bupesh Chaudhary specifically directed the Executive Engineer, PWD, to expedite the completion of ongoing construction projects, ensuring that the cafeteria and other facilities are operational in time for the upcoming season.

Later, the delegation paid tribute to the martyrs and heroes of the 1999 Kargil War at the War Memorial in Drass, reflecting on the sacrifices made for the nation.
The visit continued with an inspection of the Potato Farm in Drass, where the Chief Agriculture Officer briefed the Secretaries on ongoing departmental activities and the farm's contribution to promoting cash crop cultivation in the region. The Administrative Secretary directed agriculture officers to prioritize protected cultivation and encourage farmers to leverage the Ladakh Greenhouse Scheme. SDM Drass, Vishal Atri, assured the department of full cooperation in resolving land-related challenges.

Administrative Secretary for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, IT, and Disaster Management, Shashanka Ala, inspected the newly constructed Directorate of Rural Development building in Kargil, constructed by CPWD. She noted significant engineering deficiencies, including an entrance and visible structural cracks. She directed the on-site engineer to rectify these issues within a month, warning that failure to comply would result in reporting the matter to the Ministry of Home Affairs for penal action.

Shashanka Ala also instructed the ACD and BDO Drass to ensure the schemes' convergence to maximise government programs' benefits. She emphasized the importance of involving Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and utilizing convergence for land development in horticulture and agriculture as per existing rules.

This visit underscores the Union Territory of Ladakh's commitment to driving development and promoting sustainable practices in agriculture, horticulture, and cooperatives, while honoring the region’s rich history and contributions to the nation.