Leh, March 13: Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Parshottam Rupala visited villages along LAC in Ladakh where he was given a warm welcome by the village representatives.

The Union Minister interacted with the local villagers who put forward various demands including the opening of Galwan valley for domestic tourists, lifting of water from Shayok River for agricultural purposes and a veterinary centre at Shayok.

He assured that soon a veterinary ambulance will be inducted into service and added that a proposal for water lifting will be prepared. He said that other demands will also be considered with other Govt. Department/ agencies.

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The Union Minister also distributed yak shearing machines, Rebo nomadic tents made of yak hair and cattle-feed among the beneficiaries.

Later, he also visited the house of Angchuk in Shayok and interacted with other herders.  Also, the Union Minister visited the house of Sonam Dolker at Chillam, who was provided with a solar power borewell under Jal Jeevan Mission.

Similarly, the Union Minister also visited Sato village where he interacted with the people of Sato, Kargyam and Parma.

While interacting with the Union Minister, people demanded a craft centre and pre-fabricated nomadic huts at the village. People demanded a veterinary hospital, dairy product processing unit, development of pastureland and an exposure tour for the nomads.

Giving a patient hearing, the Union Minister assured to consider their demands.

The dignitaries were provided mementoes of the Frozen Pangong Lake marathon conducted under ‘Vibrant Village Programme’.

The Union Minister visited the winter reserve pasture of Tashi Tsering of Sato village and enquired about the health of the yak herd.

On the way to Phobrang, the Minister interacted with the Jawan and officers of the 24 ITBP Battalion and appreciated the work.

At Phobrang, the Union Minister was given a warm welcome by the villagers of Kakjung, Phobrang andYourgo.

In a one-to-one interaction with the villagers, various issues of Phobrang village were discussed which includes pasture development, yak breeding centre, Rural Banking facilities, feral dog control programme, provision of more yak units of larger sizes, exposure tour of nomads to Central Asia, equipment and training to women SHGs of Phobrang village for value addition of Pashmina.

The Union Minister assured the community to address all their concerns by coordinating with UT, and Central Departments to promote the border villages as thriving rural independent self-sufficient economic units.

He also interacted with Konchok Stobgais who runs a woman SHG working with Pashmina value addition and visited the craft centre in the village and appreciated their hard work.

Private Secretary, Ram Singh, Govt of India, Deputy Commissioner, Leh; EC Sheep, LAHDC, Leh; Councillor Chushul; Nominated BDC Durbuk; DSHO, CAHO, SDM and Block officer of Tangtse.

In the end, the minister stopped at the house of Jigmet Spalzes at Tangtse for a night halt at her residence.