Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur convened a meeting with the Chairman and Executive Councillors of LAHDC Kargil and Deputy Commissioner, Kargil on January 19 and discussed the plans and visions for  Kargil district development.

Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan requested Lt Governor Mathur to look into the issues and demands of Hill Council Kargil, including amendment in Councillor Constituency Developmental Allocation (CCDA) Guidelines for relaxation of urgent nature works on resolution, allocating small project works within the municipal limit to local contractors, operating AN 32 Courier service at the earliest, issuance of appointment letter to selected Panchayat Accounts Assistants, jobs in SRO 43 cases at the earliest, clearance of urban development 24x7 water supply project of Kargil town, approval of funds for the completion of 300-bedded hospital at Kargil, coordinating SDP and State Sector Plans to avoid duplicity, construction of Panikhar to Pahalgam Road, extension of Kargil Civil Airport, provision of funds to clear work under CRF/BADP, reduction in subsidy on heli services ticket on Kargil-Jammu route, defining protocol of Councillors of Hill Council, deputing Forest Protection Force employees to Wildlife Department Kargil, providing Rs 200 crores under SDP to the Hill Council for bigger projects, additional funds to meet land compensation under PMGSY and Rural Development Department, release of sufficient funds under NDRF for permanent restoration of works, among others.

Feroz Ahmad also apprised Lt Governor Mathur of various subsidy schemes of Hill Council Kargil, including winter tuition, subsidised coaching, rehabilitation of divyangs (physically challenged), scooty on subsidy for working women, subsidy on laptops, Bosmet-I-Goyoqs or pucca house, water mill, hydroponics, development of apricot orchards, development of model schools, subsidy on e-cars, subsidy on heli services for patients and students, training on skill enhancement and subsidy on purchase of sports equipment.

Speaking during the occasion, Lt Governor Mathur stressed the need to promote self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship among the youth of Ladakh through intervention by the UT Administration and Hill Council by setting up milk pasteurisation and commercial cattle units and commercial poly-carbonated greenhouses, etc. He also directed DC Kargil to retrofit all govt. buildings with running water and heating facilities and to ensure that the ongoing work to provide FHTCs to rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission is completed well before 15th August this year.

There was also discussion on producing around 200-megawatt electricity within Ladakh using solar, geothermal and wind energy to overcome the shortage of power as well as increasing cultivation of apricot and apples for export.

Earlier, DC Kargil Santosh Sukhdeve gave a detailed presentation on various developmental works in the district in different sectors.

Later, Lt Governor Mathur flagged off five mobile veterinary units of the Department of Sheep Husbandry, Kargil. He also visited the Trout Rearing Unit at Khachan and the 50-bedded Hospital at GM Pore. A team led by Anayat Ali Shotopa also called on Lt Governor Mathur to showcase Mamani food.