Kargil, October 26: In a step toward promoting local entrepreneurship and self-reliance, Kargil today witnessed the inauguration of Zilpa Chu, the district’s first-ever mineral water plant, located at Zakir Automobile, Ringmospang. The event was graced by the Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Haji Haneefa Jan as Chief Guest and Hon’ble Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, as the Guest of Honour.
The inauguration ceremony began with the traditional ribbon-cutting and offering of khataks to mark the auspicious occasion. The attendees were then given a guided tour of the plant, where the complete processing and purification procedure of Zilpa Chu was demonstrated.
Member of Parliament Ladakh, congratulated Mr. Zakir Hussain and his family for establishing a pioneering venture that not only promotes local production but also generates employment, particularly for women. He urged the youth of Kargil to take advantage of various subsidized government schemes and loan facilities available for entrepreneurship and start-up development. The MP further highlighted emerging employment sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, and tourism, stressing that hard work and innovation are key to success.
He also expressed pride that local products such as apricot, apple, and seabuckthorn are now being exported to Gulf countries and used to manufacture a range of value-added products. The MP called upon the district administration and the merchants’ association to promote Zilpa Chu in the market and inspire other young minds to follow this path of self-reliant enterprise.
Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor LAHDC Kargil Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon congratulated Mr. Zakir Hussain and his family for their noble and visionary effort. He noted that initiatives like Zilpa Chu reflect a progressive shift toward self-employment and sustainable development in Kargil.
Dr. Akhoon reaffirmed that the LAHDC Kargil is fully committed to supporting individuals and groups engaged in start-up ventures, providing all possible assistance to create local employment opportunities.
The CEC also announced that the Council is working toward making Kargil self-sufficient in vegetable and mushroom production in the near future. He added that Ladakh has immense natural and human resources, and the key to regional growth lies in identifying and harnessing potential sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, and small-scale manufacturing.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Rakesh Kumar, extended his heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Zakir Hussain and his family for their commendable entrepreneurial initiative. He emphasized that while government employment opportunities are limited, the administration remains committed to promoting start-ups and entrepreneurship as sustainable alternatives for livelihood generation.
He encouraged youth to take inspiration from such ventures and highlighted the government’s ongoing schemes aimed at supporting small-scale industries and start-ups. The DC also announced that the next phase of Jan-Hit Camp will soon be launched under the Jan-Hit program to encourage wider public participation.
The event concluded with words of appreciation for the efforts of the promoters and a shared hope that Zilpa Chu will set new benchmarks for quality and sustainability in the region’s manufacturing sector.
