Double Push for Ladakh: LG Meets PM as Kargil Delegation Submits Demands to Home Minister Amit Shah
Ladakh LG meets PM; Kargil delegation seeks civil flights, hospitals, schools, and district status for development.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, briefing him on key issues and the overall situation in the Union Territory. Saxena, who took oath as the new LG last week in Leh, discussed developmental priorities for both districts of Ladakh during the meeting.
A high-level delegation from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, led by Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor Mohd Jaffer Akhoon and Member of Parliament Mohammad Haneefa Jan, called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday. The delegation included Executive Councillor Zakir Hussain and submitted a memorandum outlining several developmental demands.
The memorandum requested the operationalisation of civil flights from Kargil and an extension of the existing runway to establish a full-fledged civil airport. Officials noted that such connectivity is especially crucial during winter months when surface routes remain closed due to snow. The delegation also pressed for district status for Sankoo and Shakar-Chiktan subdivisions, citing their population and historical significance, and requested their inclusion in upcoming official notifications for newly announced districts in Ladakh.
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On administrative matters, the Kargil council sought the restoration of powers for Administrative Approval and Expenditure Sanction up to Rs 5 crore for the Deputy Commissioner and CEO of LAHDC Kargil, aiming to expedite local developmental projects. The delegation emphasized that decentralised decision-making would improve the timely execution of projects and governance at the district level.
In the health and education sectors, the leaders requested sanction for a 200-bedded hospital in Kargil to supplement the existing 100-bedded facility. They also urged early execution of a sanctioned engineering college, establishment of an agricultural university, and a women’s degree college at Sankoo to strengthen higher education and support the region’s agrarian economy.
The delegation additionally highlighted five already approved hydroelectric projects, requesting Home Minister Shah to facilitate coordination with relevant ministries for timely execution. Officials said these measures are aimed at ensuring sustainable development, improved infrastructure, and enhanced opportunities for the people of Kargil and wider Ladakh.
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