A review meeting for land and other security-related issues of both Leh and Kargil district with Army (14 Corps) was convened by Saugat Biswas, Divisional Commissioner Ladakh on September 18.

Sachin Kumar Vaishya, DC, Leh, Brig Rakesh Manocha, Col Rahul Oberoi, Col Savit Sharma, Defence Estate Officer Irfan Hafiz, Tashi Dolma, ADC to Div Com, Suresh Kumar Chib, ASP, Tehsildar Leh, ARTO, Leh attended the meeting. Baseer ul Haq Choudhary, DC Kargil, SP Kargil and other concern officers were present through video conferencing.  
 
Saugat Biswas directed Deputy Commissioners to expedite the pending mutations for lands which are in lawful possession of the Army. He urged the Army authorities and the Defence Estates Officer to do a regular follow-up of pending land issues with the district administrations. 
 
DCs were asked to ease the process of granting NOCs to the Army for construction purposes in Army land. Also, he urged Brig. Rakesh Minocha to relax norms in favour of the civilians as much as possible while arbitrating with the civilians in matters of land and constructions. 
 
Baseer ul Haq Choudhary was asked to resolve the lower Khurbathang dispute in coordination with the GOC 8 Mountain Div, Kargil in a time-bound manner and reclaim the land from the Army at an earliest for civilian usage.
 
Saugat Biswas directed the DCs to expedite and resolve the maximum number of cases before the formal setup of Ladakh as UT. 
 
Both Army and District Administration was urged to have district-level civil-military liaison meet every month. He asked the Defense Estates Officer to resolve all the cases in consultation with the Deputy Commissioners wherever Ex-State Forces property is to be formally transferred to the Army. 
 
Army highlighted the increase in the usage of Thuraya radio sets (satellite phones) by tourists and also non-registration of overseas tourists sometimes.
 
Saugat Biswas directed Tourism department to register all rented accommodations in the districts and share the information with the Superintendents of Police. The SPs were asked to reconcile data of resthouses/homestays/ hotels with the tourism department and ensure all overseas tourists are registered on the FRO on arrival. 
 
Awareness on prohibiting the use of satellite phones will be carried out by the tourism and police department. 
 
Brigadier Manocha also assured that every effort will be made by the Army to ease out civilian day to day activities in the border areas. Also, proactive measures will be taken to ease restrictions coming in the way of developmental activities of the government.