Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), met with the members of the Committee on Public Accounts from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly during their study tour to Ladakh on July 5. The meeting, led by the Chairman of the Committee, CC Patil, took place at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.

Advisor to the LG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS, and ADGP Ladakh, Dr SD Singh Jamwal, IPS, were also present.

The Committee on Public Accounts from Karnataka Legislative Assembly is on a study tour to Ladakh from July 4 to 7. During the meeting, Patil provided a brief introduction of the Committee members and explained the functioning and objectives of the Committee. The members inquired about various sectors in Ladakh, including agriculture, hydro-electric projects, industrial policy, the election of Hill Councils and their governance roles, crime rates, and healthcare facilities.

LG expressed his pleasure in interacting with the esteemed Committee, acknowledging their long-standing public service. He informed the members about Ladakh's nascent stage as a Union Territory since 2019 and highlighted the neglect faced by the region when it was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in budget allocation, communication, and connectivity. He discussed the challenges in utilizing funds allocated by the Government of India due to the lack of proper mechanisms but assured that the UT Administration is now ensuring proper and full utilization of these funds for Ladakh's development.

LG shared his six-decade-long association with Karnataka, particularly Mysuru, where he was commissioned into the Infantry, the 18th Battalion of the Madras Regiment, in 1961. He also discussed the challenges faced by the UT Administration, such as ensuring the availability of drinking water for future generations, maintaining year-round road connectivity, and reducing the mortality rate of pashmina goat kids.

He felicitated the members of the Committee on Public Accounts. Advisor to the LG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, briefed the Committee on various initiatives taken by the UT Administration across different sectors, despite the short working season, and highlighted efforts to make Ladakh a carbon-neutral region.