Kargil, August 20: The Commissioner/Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department, Ladakh, Kacho Mehboob Ali Khan on Saturday presided over a meeting today to discuss preparations for the UT Ladakh Foundation Day at Kargil. Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC Kargil, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse was also present in the meeting.

The meeting also addressed matters related to maintaining cleanliness and removing legacy garbage from mountaineering base camps and trekking routes in the Union territory.

Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department (RD&PRD), Tahir Hussain and Director (Tourism), Kunzes Angmo attended the meeting virtually.

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Those present in person at the meeting include

OSD to Director, School Education Department, Chief Education Officer, Kargil; Deputy Secretary, Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (LAACL), Kargil; Assistant Director, Tourism, Kargil; Block Development Officer, Kargil, and other concerned officers and officials.

At the outset, the Commissioner/Secretary informed that this year the UT Ladakh Foundation Day is being celebrated in a grand manner and the UT administration intends to showcase Ladakh in all States/UTs through appropriate delegation of students/Councillors to all States/Union Territories across the nation.

The purpose is to present Ladakh’s rich culture and traditions at the national level and make the people of India aware about Ladakh’s cultural diversity and peaceful atmosphere where people live in harmony with each other.

The Commissioner/Secretary instructed the Education Department to follow the criteria framed with the approval of the DC/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil and ensure representative selection of students through fair means based on merit.

The DC/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil will oversee the process. The delegations will be finalised in consultation with the LAHDCs of Kargil & Leh respectively. The Deputy Secretary of LAACL, Kargil & Leh will arrange all logistical supports required as discussed in the meeting.

He further emphasized on the need for providing efficient training to the students within a limited timeframe.

The other important issue discussed in the meeting was about maintaining cleanliness and removing legacy garbage from mountaineering base camps and trekking routes in the Union territory. Various suggestions were put forward by the officers in attendance.

The Commissioner/Secretary after detailed discussion directed the Director(Tourism) to identify all locations in consultation with concerned stakeholders and Director, RD&PRD. The Director, RD&PRD will then undertake cleanliness drive at the identified locations for collection & segregation of all legacy garbage.

He further stated that the administration will consider forming  enforcement teams at sub division level for a ensuring a sustained cleanliness drive and also to enforce cleanliness through levy of penalty on repeated offenders.

The DC/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil and Director (Tourism) have been directed to ensure safe drinking water at all existing/newly coming up wayside amenities and also to finalise land for Tourist Reception Centre near Zojila/Minamarg for developing proper infrastructure as envisaged at all major entry points in the Union territory.

Earlier, en-route to Kargil, the Commissioner/Secretary took stock of the pace of progress on ongoing tourism infrastructure projects at Darchiks/Garkone and Sodh area.

The Commissioner/Secretary inspected the ongoing work of the War Memorial at Batalik and Wayside Amenity at Barchey Sodh and instructed the concerned engineers of Kargil Development Authority to complete these ongoing works in before the onset of winter. He stressed on strict adherence to quality and quantity parameters and stated that no compromise with planned parameters will be tolerated.

The Commissioner/ Secretary also directed the Engineers of KDA to process the pending bills immediately and make payments to the contractors after due verification of the completed works.

The Commissioner/Secretary also interacted with local people at Sanjak and Garkone and listened to their issues and developmental needs. He assured them of appropriate consideration of their genuine demands.