Financial achievements upto ending November 2018 under Capex Budget 2018-19 in Leh district was reviewed in the two day General Council meeting on December 17 and 18 at DC Conference hall. 

The meeting was convened under the Chairmanship of Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Chairman/ CEC, LAHDC, Leh. Tribute was paid to Late Engineer Sonam Dawa before the commencement of the meeting.

Jamyang Tsering Namgyal informed that the total financial outlay for the year 2018-19 was ₹ 13,589.53 out of which ₹1,522.77 (15.22%) expenditure has been reported till November end.

He said that the major reason for projecting less expenditure is because of the introduction of Beem App which posed technical difficulties and problems in accounting procedures. He appreciated the district officers headed by DC, Leh in ensuring efficient execution of work and proper utilisation of funds despite various unavoidable challenges.

Major recent achievements including the announcement of Cluster University for  Ladakh, upgradation of SNM Hospital with 300 beds capacity, successful MC and Panchayat Elections in the district was also highlighted.  The house also appreciated the promotion of Bhoti language by conducting the house proceedings in the local language.

A question hour session was also introduced in the house during which each councilor were given chance to submit five written questions out of which one question each on priority basis was answered during the session. Remaining four questions will be answered in written form. 

The Chairman stressed on trying new changes in the existing work pattern to ensure more effective and efficient service delivery. The progress report of all the departments was discussed and urged all the heads of the department for timeliness and coordination.  Councilors representing different constituencies raised issues faced in their respective places and sought answers from the concerned Executive councilors and HOD’s.

Discussion was held on waste management, formation of a committee to verify bogus ration card holders, closing of snooker points in Lower Leh area,  streamlining of Social Welfare schemes, need for flexibility in the nomenclature of livestock compensation, promotion of potential sports like polo, archery and Ice-hockey, introduction of Urdu subject in government and private schools, revival of 'Ladakh Phonya' departmental magazine, maintaining of close coordination between NHPC and PDD to ensure smooth power supply etc. Also, the progress under Non-plan schemes, Centrally Sponsored Schemes, CRF, PMGSY, AMRUT, UDISSMT, Beautification of Leh Town, Solid Waste Management was also discussed.

Regarding CCDF, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal instructed councilors to not to send proposal beyond fixed fund and the same should not be accepted by implementing/planning agency. He also impressed upon the need to bring necessary changes in the guidelines of CCDF and urged the Councilors to submit their suggestion by end of December. Based on which DC will frame a draft and put for final approval in mid-January, 2019.

While on the other hand,  Konchok Stanzin, Dorjay Motup and Tashi Namgyal, Councilors of Chushul, Tangtse and Kungyam constituency respectively boycotted the 2 day General Council Meeting.  The three councilors representing the Changthang region showed resentment for neglecting the Executive Councillors seat for the Changthang region during the reshuffle of LAHDC, Leh. They also cited unhappiness over the delay in keeping up the promises made to create  EC post within one month time. 

Gurmet Dorjey, Opposition leader also raised the issue of neglecting Changthang region for the EC post and the delay in holding review meeting by two months because of which he said that expenditure has suffered. All the opposition Councillors staged a walked out from the house.

Jamyang Tsering Namgyal urged the opposition Councilors not to politicise trivial issues rather stressed to focus on the developmental aspect of the region.

On the second day, serious deliberation was made over the land allotment without the consent of Hill Council by Revenue Department in the recent past and illegal land grabbing and forceful occupation and destruction of grazing land in border areas of Changthang by the army. 

Chering Dorjey, MLC expressed the need to take up serious measures to keep a check on land mafia prevalent in the district.

The Chairman directed Avny Lavasa, DC to form a committee to identify the land allotments in phase manner and to cancel the allocations done without the permission of Council. 

The issues uneven pit holes on main roads in Leh town were strongly taken up by Councillor Upper and Lower Leh, MLC, President MC, Leh citing it as a failure and lack of coordination among concerned departments. 

Exen PHE was directed to ensure even and smooth road in the coming working season and hold SE PWD to responsible to ensure coordination among the various divisions of PWD in future.

 

CEC stressed upon the HODs to ensure timely and quality execution of projects by prioritising on a need basis and gave full assurance to sort out technical issues with proper survey and to take up required issues with higher authorities at State and Centre level.