Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), chaired a meeting at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat on June 25 to review the detailed project report (DPR) for the 24x7 Water Supply Scheme for Kargil town, alongside other projects of the Housing and Urban Development Department, UT Ladakh.

Addressing the critical issue of drinking water, the HLG emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive plan that anticipates the water needs of future generations for at least the next 30 years. He advocated for utilizing surface water instead of solely relying on underground sources and directed concerned officials to prioritize these initiatives with urgency.

Ashish from Shah Technical Consultants Pvt Ltd delivered a detailed presentation on the 24x7 Water Supply Scheme for Kargil town, covering 13 wards and adjoining areas, projected to serve a population of approximately 30,000 by 2025 with 5,011 households. The presentation included plans for intake points at Drass and Suru Rivers, provisions for 7,500 house service connections, and considerations for sub-zero temperatures to ensure year-round water availability, with an estimated project cost of Rs 410.70 crores.

Principal Secretary of the HUD Department,  Sanjiv Khirwar, IAS, updated on the division of Kargil town into six zones for the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) project, highlighting progress in land acquisition for three zones where formalities have been completed and tenders floated.

Deputy Commissioner of Kargil,  Shrikant Suse, IAS, briefed the LG on land acquisition status in the remaining three zones, exploring options including land swaps. He noted that land in one zone belongs to the state.

LG instructed the DC Kargil to secure land in two zones within 15 days for STP construction. He also queried progress on identifying alternative perennial water sources for Leh beyond the Indus River and sought updates on the Khardung La Tunnel project's potential to divert Shayok River water to meet Leh's water needs. Solid waste management plans for Kargil were discussed, with directives to consider future needs in planning STPs and waste management for Leh and Kargil.

The meeting was attended by Advisor to the LG, Dr Pawan Kotwal; Commissioner/Secretary to the LG L Franklin; Deputy Commissioner Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve; Director Urban Local Bodies Tahir Hussain; Chief Engineers from PHE/I&FC and PWD, Maqbool Hussain and Mutalib, respectively, along with other officials from concerned departments, both physically and virtually.