Kargil: In a crucial preparatory meeting held in Kargil, Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Culture Department, UT Ladakh, issued strong directives for collaborative efforts among all departments to ensure a smooth, successful, and respectful visit of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to the Union Territory. The visit is scheduled to commence on July 12, with major public engagements planned in Leh and Zanskar.
The meeting was chaired by the Administrative Secretary and was attended physically by the Director, Tourism, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kargil, Deputy Secretary, LAACL-Kargil, Assistant Director, Tourism Kargil, In-charge SDM, Zanskar, Executive Engineers of PWD and ZDA Zanskar, and other officials.
Virtually attending the meeting were Deputy Commissioner Leh, Superintendent of Police Leh, Joint Director Hospitality & Protocol, and the Vice President of Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA).
During the meeting, the Administrative Secretary provided clear instructions to all departments for ensuring comfort, safety, and seamless execution of all arrangements related to the visit. He emphasized close coordination, especially at the time of reception at the Leh airport, and directed concerned officials to conduct twice-daily site inspections to monitor arrangements, infrastructure, and security protocols.
The Secretary also instructed the Deputy Secretary, LAACL-Leh to maintain direct coordination with the office of His Holiness to ensure effective communication and timely support throughout the visit.
The Vice President of the LBA highlighted the need for smooth connectivity along the Nimmo–Padum–Darcha (NPD) road, especially during the Zanskar leg of the visit. He informed that sermons by His Holiness are scheduled to be held in Zanskar, and preparations must reflect traditional practices followed during previous visits.
The meeting also included a departmental review, where the Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority Kargil, Superintending Engineer, LPDC Kargil, and various district officers and executive engineers were present to discuss the status of works under the Tourism & Culture Department.
The Administrative Secretary concluded by reiterating that inter-departmental cooperation and timely execution are key to ensuring that His Holiness’s visit is conducted with dignity, safety, and cultural reverence.
