KARGIL, JUNE 01, 2021: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan chaired a meeting to review the realignment works on NH-301 Kargil-Zanskar highway and progress of ongoing works on the Zojila Tunnel.

Deputy Commissioner and CEO,LAHDC, Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve, General Manager, NHIDCL Colonel Ashwini Kumar, DGM Admin and LA NHIDCL Anil Kumar, General Manager, Megha Engineering Fayaz Ahmad, besides other representatives and Engineers of NHIDCL, Skylark Infrastructure Engineering Private Limited, and other companies attended the meeting. 

During the course of the meeting, the CEC inquired from the concerned officers about the acquisition of state and private land for various road widening and construction works on NH-301, payment of land compensation to private land owners, procedure for compensation of private structures and other related issues.

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CEC Khan instructed the contractors and representatives of NHIDCL to engage locals in filling up manpower vacancies for various works related to the road realignment.

Only highly skilled labourers that are not available locally should be recruited from outside the district, otherwise the local engineers and other unemployed youth should be given preference, the CEC maintained. 

The NHIDCL engineers presented a detailed review on the scope and challenges in realignment works of the highway from Kargil to Zanskar, adding that the realignment work of the road is divided in 8 packages. 

The CEC was further informed that local people in most of the villages have agreed to provide land for realignment of the road by further 12 meters. 

Meanwhile, the contractors urged the administration to speed up the requisite paperwork so that the work can be commenced without further delay. They further requested the CEC and DC to open the online portal to grant permission from the Pollution Control Board. 

The CEC and DC assured to do the needful so as to ease the contractors in getting permissions and other paper works. They further said that procedures for acquisition of land will be discussed with the local public representatives , adding the procedure to engage locals will also be resolved in consultation with various stakeholders. 

The CEC also enquired about the status of ongoing works on the Zojila tunnel where the engineers gave a detailed report on the progress of work. They informed that up to 5.75 meters work has been done inside the tunnel from Meenamarg side.