CEC, LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd. Jaffer Akhoon, welcomed the newly appointed Administrative Secretary for Tourism & Culture, Housing & Urban Development, and Information & Public Relations, UT Ladakh, Sanjit Rodrigues, at his office chamber on August 25. The CEC also chaired a review meeting with the Secretary and district officers to assess the status and progress of ongoing developmental works in the district.

The meeting was attended by Executive Councillor Kacho Mohd. Feroz, Deputy Commissioner/CEO LAHDC Kargil Rakesh Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Imteeaz Kacho, and senior officers from Urban Development, R\&B, Municipal Committee, District Library, Tourism, and other line departments.

During the review, officers from the Urban Development Department briefed that several projects are under execution, including the construction of a slaughterhouse, multi-level parking facility, sewage treatment plant, truck terminal, and related infrastructure.

Secretary Rodrigues emphasized adopting scientific methods for waste management. He suggested separate collection of meat waste for proper disposal and proposed installing a chicken feather treatment machine. He further directed that the operational responsibility of slaughterhouse machinery be entrusted to the concerned agency for at least 10 years to ensure effective maintenance.

The Secretary instructed officers to incorporate these suggestions in the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), revise them accordingly, and submit presentations within 15 days.

On building laws, Secretary Rodrigues informed the CEC that while the J\&K Act currently remains in force in Ladakh, new Ladakh-specific building laws are under consideration. He said the draft would soon be submitted to LAHDC Kargil for necessary feedback and incorporation before finalization.

Reviewing beautification projects at Sher Bagh and Bulbul Bagh, the Secretary said minor changes have been suggested in the DPRs. He also took stock of the Museum and Archives Department project, where land has been identified and tendering is under process, and urged officers to expedite the work.

Highlighting the tourism sector, Rodrigues informed that about 107 projects worth ₹2,251 crore are underway across the district. He directed concerned officers to ensure timely completion, finalize tendering of near-completion projects, and operationalize facilities on an outsourcing basis for efficient functioning.

The Secretary further stressed adherence to project timelines, personal follow-ups on files submitted for administrative approval, and sufficient time allocation for DPR preparation to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Meanwhile, CEC Dr. Jaffer Akhoon underlined the importance of close inter-departmental coordination for effective implementation of developmental works. He directed engineers and officers to ensure strict monitoring on the ground to achieve timely and quality completion of projects.