Leh: On the final day of her visit to Ladakh, Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman paid tribute to the brave Indian soldiers at the Rezang La War Memorial in Chushul on Tuesday.
The memorial was built in honour of the soldiers of the 13 Kumaon Regiment who selflessly laid down their lives during the 1962 war for the Country.
The Minister viewed the museum and a short film highlighting the courage of the martyrs led by MVC, Major Shaitan Singh.
Later, she visited Merak village, near the Pangong Lake, to see the site for the proposed National Large Solar Telescope (NLST). This is proposed to be India’s largest ground-based solar telescope, designed to study the Sun and space weather.
Prof. Ravindera B, Project Manager, NI Indian Institute of Astrophysics gave a detailed presentation about the project and its future benefits. Dr. Annapurni Subramaniam, the Institute’s Director, also joined the visit.
At Merak, Minister Sitaraman also met local delegates including the Councilor of Chushul constituency, Konchok Stanzin, Nambarders of Phobrang and Man-Merak villages and women SHGs who submitted memorandums requesting for redressal of their problems and demands.
The Minister was accompanied by Secretary, Tourism, Vikram Singh Malik; Secretary, S&TW Department, Shashanka Ala, Chief Conservator Wildlife, Sajjad Mufti, DC Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, SSP Leh, Shruti Arora, Science & Technical Staff of Indian Institute of Astronomical Observatory, Hanley and concern officers.
Pertinent to mention here that the chairman and chief executive councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman the other day and submitted a memorandum, which among other things sought a special package of Rs 1,000 crore to complete the vital infrastructure projects.
Akhoon during the meeting presented a comprehensive memorandum outlining several key developmental and infrastructural demands concerning the Kargil district, an official said.
The memorandum emphasized the urgent needs of the region and sought the Union Finance Ministry’s intervention in key sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, governance and tourism, he added.
The official said that a special package of Rs 1,000 crore was requested to complete vital infrastructure projects stalled due to insufficient funding.
The finances in Ladakh have become a big problem in the current financial year due to Rs 1,266 crore worth cuts in the budget by the Finance Ministry.
Among the other key demands presented include an upgradation of the existing 100-bed district hospital to a 200-bed hospital, establishment of a super specialty hospital or a Mini AIIMS and runway expansion and immediate commencement of civil air operations from Kargil, the official said.
The chairman of LAHDC, Kargil, also demanded a separate women’s college in Sankoo and immediate operationalization of the sanctioned engineering college with full faculty and infrastructure support.
It was urged that funds allocated to the LAHDC be made non-lapsable to ensure efficient utilization and multi-year planning and enhancement of the LAHDC Capex grant to Rs 500 crore annually.
Akhoon also called for a dedicated tourism promotion fund to unlock the region’s potential for eco, adventure and cultural tourism.
He expressed deep appreciation to the Finance Ministry for its continued support to the Ladakh region and emphasized that fulfillment of these demands would play a transformative role in Kargil’s future.
Akhoon said a robust healthcare, educational infrastructure and financial empowerment of local bodies are essential for sustainable and inclusive development.
