Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on June 16 during her official visit to Leh. During the meeting, Dr. Akhoon submitted a detailed memorandum outlining key developmental and infrastructural demands aimed at the holistic development of Kargil district.

The memorandum highlighted the need for upgrading the existing 100-bedded District Hospital to a 200-bedded facility and establishing a Super Specialty Hospital or Mini-AIIMS to ensure advanced and affordable healthcare. It also sought the establishment of a women’s college in Sankoo to promote gender equity in education, and the immediate operationalization of the sanctioned engineering college. Dr. Akhoon called for making LAHDC funds non-lapsable, restoring LAHDC’s administrative powers, enhancing the annual Capex grant to ₹500 crore, and reinstating its authority to grant Administrative Approvals. He also requested ₹150 crore to clear pending compensation claims, expansion of Kargil’s runway and initiation of civil air operations, a dedicated tourism development fund, and a ₹1,000 crore package to complete stalled infrastructure projects. Additionally, he emphasized the need for greater financial and administrative empowerment of LAHDC to ensure effective decentralization and local development.

Dr. Akhoon expressed gratitude to the Finance Ministry for its continued support and reiterated that addressing these demands would be transformative for Kargil’s inclusive and sustainable growth.