A delegation from LAHDC Kargil, led by its Chairman/CEC, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, met Lieutenant Governor, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at the LG’s Secretariat on November 22 to deliberate on issues related to the Capital Expenditure (CapEx) budget for the Hill Councils.

Dr. Akhoon expressed concerns over the Government of India’s revised budget allocation for Ladakh for the financial year 2024-25, requesting the LG to avoid reducing the CapEx budget for both Hill Councils. He emphasized that any reduction would negatively affect project execution and overall development in both districts.

Accompanying the Chairman were Executive Councillors Kacho Mohd Feroz and Er. Punchok Tashi, along with Councillors Mohd Sajad Khan (Saliskote), Manzoor Hussain (Yourbaltak), Abdul Wahid (Bhimet), and Abdul Hadi (Taisuru). They collectively urged the LG to maintain the current CapEx budget and raised additional concerns, including allocating funds for youth skill development, Drought relief packages for water-scarce regions, Funding for protective bunds, irrigation khuls, and roads, Filling vacant teacher posts and addressing the shortage of Block Development Officers (BDOs), Granting district status to Sankoo sub-division, Organizing UT-level events in Kargil and Providing maternity leave for NHM employees in Ladakh, akin to J&K UT.

Director Finance, Dr. Safdar Ali, IRS, presented an overview of CapEx allocations for 2024-25 and 2025-26. Advisor to the LG, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS, assured the delegation of the administration’s consistent efforts to increase the CapEx budget for Hill Councils despite overall reductions in the UT’s CapEx allocation since 2020.

The LG assured the delegation that he would escalate their concerns to the Home Ministry and Finance Minister. He advised the Councillors to prioritize projects that can be completed within three years and encouraged the use of surface water for drinking purposes to conserve groundwater for future generations.

Further directives included conducting feasibility studies for new projects, launching a dedicated portal for the biannual transfer/posting of teaching and non-teaching staff, organizing remedial classes during winter and addressing teacher attachment/detachment issues.

The meeting underscored the administration’s commitment to sustainable development while addressing pressing concerns raised by the Hill Council representatives.