The newly elected executive councillors of 5th LAHDC Kargil led by Chief Executive Councillor,  Mohd Jaffer Akhoon met Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at Raj Niwas on October 28.

Advisor, Dr Pawan Kotwal; Executive Councillors Syed Mujtaba Mussavi,  Punchok Tashi, Mohammad Feroz, and Zakir Hussain; Principal Secretary, Sanjeev Khirwar; Secretary, Ravinder Kumar; Secretary, Yetindra Maralkar and Secretary,  Michael D’Souza were present in the meeting.

Mohd Jaffer Akhoon expressed gratitude to the UT Administration for conducting the LAHDC Kargil elections in a free and fair manner and sought support from the Administration in the smooth functioning of the new Hill Council of Kargil.

CEC raised the issue faced by the Hill Council in running Model Schools in Kargil districts due to the order of the detachment of teachers issued by the Department of School Education. He stated that the studies of students would be affected by the shifting of posts and requested that new teaching posts should be filled first before such decisions are taken for the benefit of students. He also requested that the Zoji-La Pass should be kept open as long as possible for the convenience of patients and to ensure access to essential commodities for the general public of Ladakh.

Further, he requested the LG to operate the AN-32 Kargil Courier Service as was to be done during the previous years for the benefit of the people of Kargil, especially patients. He also requested for the resumption of the helicopter service in Zanskar in the winter months for the convenience of patients and students and to relocate a certain portion of the 220 kV Drass-Padum Transmission Line or underground cabling may be used as an alternative in areas passing through agricultural fields of the people of Ladakh and in avalanche-prone areas.

He raised several other issues, viz. making Government Degree College at Drass a full-fledged college for the benefit of students; hiring a consultant to explore potential tourist destinations in Kargil district to promote Kargil as a tourist destination in Ladakh; operating civil flights in Kargil and the need to post a Tehsildar for Zanskar sub-division, etc.

The L-G congratulated the newly elected Councillors/Executive Councillors and the people of Kargil as the LAHDC Kargil elections were held at the right time in a free and fair manner. He sought cooperation from the newly elected Councillors/Executive Councillors to work for the welfare and benefit of the people of Ladakh.

He assured to provide all possible support for the smooth functioning of both Hill Councils.

He assured to investigate the issues flagged by CEC, Kargil, and other Executive Councillors. He stated that the welfare of students, casualty evacuation in emergencies, and the overall development of Ladakh are his top priorities.