Kargil, July 30: The Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, visited Karchay Khar and adjoining villages to assess public issues and review developmental works. During his visit, Dr. Akhoon also inspected the landslide-affected irrigation canal at Bumbis Thang and assured the local community of early clearance of the deposited debris to restore irrigation facilities.
At Karchekhar Hospital, Dr. Akhoon inaugurated a newly sanctioned ambulance, provided with the support of J&K Bank under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Expressing his gratitude to the bank for its commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in rural areas, he congratulated the local residents and assured them that the registration process would be completed shortly so that the ambulance could be deployed for community service without delay.
Following the inauguration, Dr. Akhoon visited the village of Karchekhar, where he interacted with residents and patiently listened to their concerns regarding essential services, development gaps, and infrastructure requirements. He issued on-spot directions to concerned officials for the timely resolution of various long-pending public grievances.
He directed the Block Development Officer (BDO) Barsoo to prepare and submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of a traditional water structure (Kalwat) in the Purkichey village. Addressing drinking water issues, the CEC assured the villagers that Jal Jeevan Mission-related concerns would be resolved at the earliest. He instructed the Executive Engineer, PHE Department, to conduct an immediate field inspection and also directed a fresh survey to identify a sustainable water source. Additionally, he proposed the construction of a new water storage tank at Karchekhar to ensure long-term water security.
Highlighting infrastructure commitments, Dr. Akhoon informed the public that ₹5 lakh has already been proposed under the Capex component of the CCDA for the restoration of the Yurba (irrigation canal) and assured its inclusion in the District Plan for the financial year 2026–27.
He further confirmed that development work for the village graveyard (Qabrastan) has been incorporated into the District CAPEX Plan for 2025–26.
To improve road connectivity, the CEC directed the Executive Engineer of Sub-Division Sankoo to conduct a survey of the road leading to the government school and assess land availability for possible expansion. He also directed the preparation of a DPR for establishing a public library in the area.
Acknowledging gaps in healthcare facilities, Dr. Akhoon assured that a new submersible pump would be installed to cater to the water needs of the hospital and nearby households. Another pump will be provided for general village use. He announced plans to install a solar-passive public toilet near Jamia Masjid to enhance sanitation facilities.
Responding to demands related to educational infrastructure, Dr. Akhoon informed that gund has been sanctioned for the construction of a new building for the Middle School in Karchekhar. He directed the Executive Engineer, R&B Sankoo, to identify the site for construction site for a playground in cooperation with the local residents
Regarding road connectivity, the CEC informed the public that the link road between Karchekhar and Dandi-Khor has been sanctioned, and work will commence shortly. He added that the link road from Richen to Blong Shangra is currently under the tendering process and will be executed under the Central Road Fund (CRF) scheme.
During the visit, several villagers, along with the Numbardar, submitted various demands, including the promotion of heritage tourism. Acknowledging the cultural and historical importance of Karchekhar, Dr. Akhoon emphasized the need to promote tourism around heritage sites such as the ancient Buddha statue, Mir QsimTomb, and other significant monuments. He assured the public that a dedicated tourism promotion campaign would be considered to highlight these sites and attract more visitors to the region.
Dr. Akhoon also reviewed issues related to land compensation and confirmed that the Revenue Department has been directed to take immediate steps for timely resolution. He instructed the PHE and REW departments to conduct surveys and prepare DPRs for the construction Roofing of a Maktab and the installation of a new hand pump at the hospital. Additionally, he asked officials to assess the feasibility of constructing a new link road in the area.
CEC Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon was accompanied by Executive engineer irrigation Ghulam Hussain, Executive Engineer PHE Mohammad Hassan, Executive Engineer R&B Agah Mehdi, (SVD Sankoo) Executive Engineer REW, Fiza Bano, and other concern officers.
