CEC, Hill Council, Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan discussed various issues of Kargil district with Principal Secretary, Dr. Pawan Kotwal at Tourist Facilitation Centre (TFC) Biamathang on August 10.

Executive Councillor for Works, Aga Syed Abbas Razvi; Executive Councillor for Social Welfare, Aga Syed Hassan Arman Mosavi; Executive Councillor for Health, Mohsin Ali and Deputy Commissioner and CEO, LAHDC, Kargil, Santosh Sukhadeve were present in the meeting.  

Feroz Ahmed Khan urged Principal Secretary UT Ladakh for setting up a system for redistribution of CAPEX Funds within sanctioned head and authorization for grant of approval to be placed at the disposal of the CEO, LAHDC, Kargil. He also underlined the need for early issuance of modified guidelines for CCD Funds in wake of the short working season besides making the District CAPEX Budget non-lapsable.

He also requested Principal Secretary Ladakh to increase 15% in Annual District Capex Budget in each succeeding financial year from the financial year 2022-23 onwards. He also said that the subsidy component under agriculture and allied sectors should continue in the upcoming budgets as it directly benefits BPL beneficiaries.

CEC also highlighted the need for the creation of 7 posts of Block Medical Officers, up-gradation of CHC Chiktan to the level of Sub District Hospital, up-gradation of PHC Shargole and PHC Panikhar to the level of Community Health Centre, establishment of Urban Health Center at the location of current District Hospital once it is shifted to its new location at Kurbathang Kargil, sanction of Block Programme Management Unit staff under NHM for Kargil and Shargole, providing of air ambulance service to Kargil, provision of three 4x4 ambulances for COVID-19 Hospital Kargil for use during winter months, provision of 1 CT Scan for COVID-19 Hospital Kargil, up-gradation of NTPHC Batalik to PHC, clearance of time-bound promotion cases of Medical Officers, incentives for Dental Surgeons serving in far-flung areas and other related issues.

He urged the Principal Secretary that the SDP and State Sector Budgets must be vetted by the LAHDCs to avoid duplicacy of projects/works, and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) should also be vetted by the LAHDCs so that works are taken for execution as per the actual requirement of the general public. He also underlined the need for the release of funds under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP).

Feroz Ahmed Khan also took up the issue of the evacuation of Lower Kurbathang Plateau and monitoring of the implementation of MoU signed with the Army, inclusion of Kargil Town, Poyen and Baroo areas in the Actual Line of Control (ALC) category, and inclusion of all areas (irrespective of urban/rural divide) within 10 KM of the ALC in the list of beneficiaries of areas under ALC certification. He also stated that the severe drought and post flash flood situation in the district during the current year requires major relief for the drought-hit and flood-hit areas. 

He urged the Principal Secretary for filling up the posts of SDMs, Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, Patwaris and other staff of the Revenue Department as a large number of these posts in the revenue department are vacant. 

As regards the issues of the Wildlife Protection Division and Forest Department in Kargil, the CEC underlined the need for the creation of two new ranges at Sankoo and Drass on a similar pattern as that in Kargil Division and creation of new posts in Wildlife Protection Division Kargil. He also emphasized the need for the creation of new forest ranges at Shakar Chiktan, TSG, and Shargole for proper implementation of Forest schemes in Kargil district. He further urged that a separate Pollution Control Board with a sufficient staff is required in the district.  

Also, he highlighted the requirement of a separate Forest Research Institute and Agrostology wings on the similar pattern as of the Union Territory of J&K to ensure introduction of new species to the district and in standardization of growing medicinal plants in the area, establishment of Forest Training School at Kargil to impart departmental training to the officials, filling up of vacant posts in Forest Division Kargil, transfer of Forest Protection Force from UT J&K to UT Ladakh and other related issues.

The Principal Secretary assured that the issues will be considered for suitable follow-up.