Leh: Delegation comprising Councillors from LAHDC Leh led by Councillor, Lamayuru, Dr Morup Dorjay, called on the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.
Chief Secretary, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Commissioner, Secretary to the LG, Dr L Franklin, IAS; Additional Secretary, Law and Justice, Shashikant Bhagat; Director, Finance, Dr Safdar Ali, IRS, were present in the meeting.
Dr Morup Dorjay apprised the LG of the issues faced by the people of Ladakh in availing loan benefits from J&K and Ladakh Finance Corporation due to the alleged malpractices and the accumulated loss faced by the Corporation.
The delegates requested the LG to bifurcate J&K and Ladakh Finance Corporation into separate J&K Finance Corporation and Ladakh Finance Corporation for better transparency and better distribution of loans among the beneficiaries from Ladakh.
The delegates also raised the issues faced by the people in remote villages due to the delay in making BSNL mobile towers functional in their constituencies.
It was informed in the meeting that post-abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A, after which the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 came into being, it was mutually decided between the two governments of UT Ladakh and J&K to jointly operate J&K Finance Corporation by rechristening it J&K and Ladakh Finance Corporation.
It was also informed that the move to bifurcate J&K and Ladakh Finance Corporation into separate Finance Corporations of J&K and Ladakh would need an amendment in Parliament.
It was further informed in the meeting that the Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation (SIDCO) has taken over the functions of the J&K SC, ST, OBC Development Corporation and other related entities, including the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) and National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and loans would soon be disbursed to beneficiaries.
The LG assured to take up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Regarding the BSNL mobile tower issue, the LG assured that necessary measures would be taken and instructions passed to BSNL officials to make the towers functional at the earliest.
A delegation from Phobrang led by Councillor, Chushul, Konchok Stanzin called on the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.
Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee; Chief Secretary, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Commissioner, Secretary, Dr Vasanthakumar N, IAS; Commissioner, Secretary to the LG, Dr L Franklin, IAS; Additional Secretary, Law and Justice, Shashikant Bhagat and Deputy Commissioner Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS, were present in the meeting.
Councillor Konchok Stanzin apprised the LG of commercial properties established by residents of Lukung, Phobrang and Yurgo on the banks of Pangong Lake on the land provided by LAHDC Leh to around 110 families after their commercial properties were taken down in 2018.
He requested the LG’s intervention in keeping the area out while conducting the rationalising boundaries exercise of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, as the livelihood of the people of all these villages is dependent on it.
The LG stated that the matter can’t be raised in the Wildlife Board meeting due to the lack of proper documentation regarding the distribution of the land.
A delegation of aspirants for the post of Junior Assistant called on the LG to express their concerns regarding delays in implementing the High Court’s order on the matter of appointments by the LAHD-SSRB Kargil.
Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Commissioner, Secretary to the LG Dr. L Franklin, IAS and Additional Secretary Law Shashi Kant Bhagat were present during the meeting.
The aspirants highlighted the issue about the 96 Junior Assistant posts advertised by LAHD-SSRB Kargil in 2024.
Out of these, only 66 posts were filled through direct recruitment, while 30 were filled through promotion, which they asserted was in violation of the direct recruitment quota.
This discrepancy was legally challenged by the aspirants in the High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), resulting in a favorable ruling for them.
During their interaction, the aspirants requested the LG’s intervention to ensure the swift implementation of the court’s order.
They emphasized the need for timely action to resolve the matter in accordance with the judicial directives.
In response, the LG assured the delegation of his commitment to ensuring that the Court’s directives are duly implemented.
Furthermore, he advised the aspirants to meet with the Deputy Commissioner of Kargil for further discussions and follow-up on the issue.
Maqbool and Sajad Ali, residents of Karkitchoo village, Kargil, called on LG Mishra at the Lt Governor’s Secretariat to discuss and seek solutions for issues affecting their village.
The representatives brought forth key requests on behalf of the villagers, including the construction of an Ice Hockey Rink at Karkitchoo, the development of a Cricket Ground for the benefit of school children and the appointment of a Physical Education Teacher (PET) at the Government Middle School, Karkitchoo.
In response, the LG assured the representatives of his commitment to addressing their concerns. He stated that the matter of the ice hockey rink and cricket ground would be taken up once the villagers provide suitable land for the purpose and ensure its proper fencing.
Regarding the appointment of a Physical Education Teacher, the LG informed them that the concerned department will verify if the post of PET is sanctioned for the school. If confirmed, necessary steps will be taken to assign a PET to the school at the earliest, he stated.
Chief Secretary Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Commissioner, Secretary to the LG Dr. L Franklin, IAS; Secretary School Education Bhanu Prabha, IAS; and Chief Engineer PWD Mutalib Hussain were present during the meeting.
