Ensure zero pendency, fast-track development in Ladakh: LG Kavinder

• Asks officials to ensure visible progress on ground

Leh, Aug 06: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, today exhorted upon the senior functionaries to ensure good governance, effective delivery of public services, and timely completion of developmental projects in the Union Territory.

 The Lt Governor was speaking while chairing an introductory and comprehensive review meeting of several departments of the UT Administration at the LG Secretariat, where he took stock of their functioning and the implementation of various government schemes.

The departments reviewed included Revenue, Finance, Home, Police, Health & Medical Education, Forest, Ecology & Environment, Ladakh Pollution Control Committee, and Labour.

In the morning session, Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS, gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation highlighting the roles and responsibilities, major projects/schemes, and various issues faced by the Revenue, Finance, and Home Departments.

Highlighting the schemes initiated in the Revenue Department—such as the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) and the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) to promote paperless revenue records—he informed about the proposed administrative structure, creation of additional posts, and financial implications for the formation of five new districts in Ladakh.

Similarly, Dr. Kotwal elaborated on various mechanisms adopted by the UT Ladakh Administration, including PMFS and LIFMS, to ensure seamless work. He briefed the Lt Governor about the budget allocated by the Union Government and the efforts being made to achieve 100% utilisation of the current financial year’s budget.

The Chief Secretary, along with DGP Ladakh Dr. S. D. Singh Jamwal, IPS, gave a detailed presentation on the Home Department and Ladakh Police, covering roles and responsibilities, staff strength, recruitment status, key initiatives, upcoming projects, and the way forward.

In the post-lunch session, Principal Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar, IAS, presented a detailed report on Health & Medical Education, highlighting healthcare facilities being provided to the people of Ladakh through health centres and the National Health Mission (NHM), existing and proposed human resources, and ongoing programmes such as Anaemia Mukt Bharat and Vision TB-Free India. He also outlined upcoming projects, including the establishment of a Medical College at Leh.

Wildlife Warden Leh, Mandeep Mittal, IFoS, briefed the Lt Governor about efforts to rationalise the boundaries of Karakoram and Changthang Wildlife Sanctuaries for the benefit of local communities. He also highlighted initiatives such as the rescue and rehabilitation of injured animals, the establishment of India’s first Dark Sky Reserve at Hanle, and other research projects in the pipeline. Similarly, he apprised the Lt Governor of key projects implemented by the Forest Department and the Ladakh Pollution Control Committee.

Principal Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar also informed the Lt Governor about the functioning, legal framework, and performance of the Labour Department, including the works carried out through the Ladakh Building & Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (LBOCWWB).

In his concluding address, the Lt Governor exhorted all officials to adopt a result-oriented approach, ensure zero pendency of files, and fast-track every developmental initiative. He emphasised that the people of Ladakh must witness visible progress on the ground and directed the UT Administration to utilise resources efficiently so that projects are completed within the stipulated timelines without any delay.