Kargil, January 14: Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra today undertook an extensive tour of Zero Point, Zojila Tunnel Eastern Portal, Kargil War Memorial and later interacted with the public of Drass Sub-Division during a grievance redressal meeting at Dak Bungalow, Drass.
At Zero Point, the Chief Secretary was briefed by Chief Engineer, Project Vijayak (BRO), Rahul Oberoi about the winter operations of the Project Vijayak upto Zero Point. He was apprised of the manpower deployment and measures being undertaken to keep the strategic Zojila axis functional during the harsh winter months. The Chief Engineer also highlighted the need for adequate winter gear, including coats and protective equipment, for labourers working under extreme climatic conditions. The Chief Secretary assured that necessary support would be extended to ensure the welfare and safety of the workforce.
The Chief Secretary then visited the Zojila Tunnel Eastern Portal where Project Manager, MEIL, Col. Shiv Kumar briefed him on the strategic importance of the Zojila Tunnel, its total length, tunnelling methodology and the current physical and financial progress. It was informed that 100 percent physical work of Part-I has been completed while Part-II has achieved 40.99 percent physical progress, taking the combined physical progress to 66.53 percent. The officials further informed that only 895 meters of tunnelling is pending from the Eastern Portal, with nearly 6 kilometers already completed and that the breakthrough is expected within the next 3 to 4 months.
Lauding the efforts of workers, engineers and all stakeholders involved in the project, the Chief Secretary appreciated their dedication in challenging conditions and assured all possible support from the UT Administration of Ladakh for timely completion of the project.
In Drass, the Chief Secretary was accorded a warm welcome at the Dak Bungalow by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate; Drass, Vishal Atri; the LAHDC Councillors of Bhimbhat and Ranbirpora as well as social organizations including local residents.
The Councillors thanked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for the announcement of five new districts and urged for early establishment of the administrative setup.
During the interaction, the public and elected representatives raised several demands, including upgradation of Drass’ Sub-District Hospital to the level of District Hospital, delimitation-related issues, increase in paramedics, nurses and medical staff, posting of specialists such as gynaecologist, anaesthetist and orthopaedist, inclusion of Drass under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP), strengthening of educational infrastructure, need for filling up vacant posts in the Education Department, promotion of Horse Polo, utilization of MEIL CSR funds in Drass, establishment of a Sheena Cultural Research Centre, development of a sports academy and other local development issues.
Responding to the concerns, the Chief Secretary assured that NHM posts would be re-advertised through newspapers in different regions, including the North-East, to address manpower shortages and that medical lapses would be examined for appropriate resolution. He said that education remains a top priority of the UT Administration and said that multiple avenues are being explored to make students of Ladakh skilled in diverse trades.
Highlighting the tourism potential of Drass, the Chief Secretary said that while the region has immense scope to attract tourists, emphasis must be laid on strengthening basic facilities. He assured that area-specific development projects would be formulated focusing on adventure tourism, wildlife tourism, border tourism and other sectors. He further assured that all demands raised would be examined in detail for appropriate redressal.
Later, the Chief Secretary visited the Kargil War Memorial, where he paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in service of the nation. He was briefed about the events of the Kargil War and visited the Hut of Remembrance and the Souvenir Outlet, appreciating their role in preserving the legacy of sacrifice and service. He assured continued support from the UT Administration for the upkeep and development of the memorial.
The Chief Secretary was accompanied by Administrative Secretary, PHE, Rahul Sharma; Administrative Secretary,Y&SS, Moses Kunzang; Managing Director, NHM, Tushar Anand; SSP Kargil, Nitin Yadav; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Imteeaz Kacho; Chief Engineer, PWD; Chief Engineer PDD; Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Drass and other District Officers and officials during the tour.
