A committee for Ladakh constituted by State Administrative Council under Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary (Planning & Development) convened a meeting with the Hill Council, Leh on February 18 at Council Secretariat.

The aim of the committee visit to Leh was to study on the periodicity of the newly created Ladakh Division, understand and resolve the concerns of both Leh and Kargil districts. 

Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, CEC raised certain points concerning the people of the district such as the creation of the post of Commissioner Secretary rank for the district as Chief Executive Officer LAHDC, the directorates must function under the overall control and superintendent of the LAHDCs Leh and Kargil. 

He further said that the district stands with the Govt. decision for sanctioned headquarters of the Ladakh Division in Leh as per the Govt. SRO-110 with no modifications to any other location. Reason being Leh is equidistant from all the Sub-divisions/blocks of the entire Ladakh region, better infrastructure and approachable via both air and road connectivity with the rest of the world. 

Also, Leh has more availability of land to expand the headquarter and directorates of all the administrative departments in the future. Considering the geo-strategic relevance of Leh, he advocated for the headquarter in Leh. 

Stressing on the fact that Leh is already accommodating the multi-ethnic groups of people from all the corners of the Ladakh region, including Kargil, he said that having headquarter in Leh would be in the great interest of the common mass. 

He urged on the creation of all the posts on the lines of other divisions of the state and requested for creation of a separate Directorate of Hospitality, Tribal Affairs, Civil aviation among others. 

Rohit Kansal, Chairman of the Committee said that the main objective of their visit to Leh is to ensure greater development and prosperity to Ladakh as a whole by finding ways for best operationalisation of the division here so that benefits flow to the people.

He assured that the committee is committed for a fair report considering the long term sustainable development of this region focusing on the promotion of art, culture, handicraft, and Pashmina. 

Rohit Kansal said that they are here to achieve the aim of divisional status by identifying the overall actual requirements of the departments and officers on the ground. 

The committee will work towards equal development of both Leh and Kargil districts, asserted Kansal.

Members of the committee, Shahid Anayatullah, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Revenue Department, Mohd. Yaqoob Itoo, Director General Budget Finance Department said that this is a continuous process and things will be completed with a flow. 

Later, the committee also held a meeting with the District Officers at DC Conference hall and took firsthand information about the power and exercise of major departments in terms of developmental schemes under District and State sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, and their fund flow mechanism. 

Detail enquiry about procedural issues and administrative problems pertaining to various departments were also carried out.  

Avny Lavasa, DC, Leh gave inputs on various important issues during the meeting.

Rigzin Samphel, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Ladakh Affairs, Sheetal Nanda, Secretary Dept. Rural Dev. & PR, Saugat Biswas, Divisional Commissioner Ladakh, Stanzin Phuntsog, EC Agriculture, Tsering Sandup, EC Health, Sargun Shukla, SSP Leh, councilors, and HODs were present during the meeting.