Leh: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, chaired a comprehensive departmental review meeting to assess progress in key sectors and to align ongoing initiatives with the aspirations and dreams of the people of Ladakh.
In the meeting, Chief Secretary Dr Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar, ADGP Ladakh Dr SD Singh Jamwal, Commissioner/Secretary Dr L Franklin, Administrative Secretaries- Rahul Sharma, Bhupesh Chaudhary, Sanjit Rodrigues, PT Rudra Goud, Michael D’Souza, Bhanu Prabha, Moses Kunzang; DC Leh Romil Singh Donk, Mission Director NHM Tushar Anand; Directors/Head of Departments of various government departments and other senior officials were present.
The review covered areas critical to the region’s development, including budget allocation and utilisation in the current financial year; progress under the Prime Minister’s Development Package—particularly RDSS and the Vibrant Village Programme—and measures taken to enhance service delivery and efficiency in border villages. The status of centrally funded major infrastructure projects, Medical College, SNM Hospital, District Hospital Kargil, Sindhu Central University, Master Plans of Leh and Kargil towns, ease of doing business and associated reforms, implementation of BNSS and related legal/administrative changes, the three-year tourism strategy including winter tourism, progress of SHGs and the cooperative sector with focus on “Lakhpati Didi”, and prison reforms—current status and proposed improvements—were also reviewed in detail.
Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments/Directors of concerned departments made detailed presentations on each of these thematic areas.
The Lt Governor stressed the need to clear pending liabilities of contractors who have completed their work, noting that timely payments are essential for maintaining project momentum and contractor confidence. He called for the early notification of the GIS-based Master Plan of Kargil under AMRUT 2.0 to prevent unplanned development. He also highlighted the importance of rational deployment of government personnel, ensuring rotation of staff who have completed their tenure for better administrative efficiency.
Emphasising rural development, the Lt Governor said that Vibrant Village Programme 2.0 should be effectively utilised to reverse migration from remote areas like Changthang by improving infrastructure and livelihood opportunities. He underlined the need to complete strategic road links such as Hanu–Turtuk, Kanji–Rangdum, and Padum–Sarchu via Kargyak to improve accessibility, reduce travel distances, and ease mobility for Ladakh residents.
Reviewing public utilities, he called for the seamless operation and maintenance of Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) under Jal Jeevan Mission, given the significant national investment in household drinking water supply. He also sought updates on the installation of smart meters across the UT, stressing their role in curbing power theft and ensuring proper tariff collection.
On health and higher education, the Lt Governor said the sanctioned Medical College should begin functioning from a temporary facility so local students are not deprived of medical education opportunities. He emphasised safe, integrated disposal of biomedical waste. He also directed early completion of sewage treatment plants in remaining areas of Leh and Kargil to comply with NGT norms and safeguard Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem. He added that Ladakh should aim to become the first UT to provide all essential services online.
Focusing on livelihoods, he urged steps to address the milk deficit by optimally utilising the milk pasteurisation plant and subsidising dairy farmers to purchase cows. He called for strengthening self-help groups to increase the number of “Lakhpati Didis” and directed the expansion of Ladakh Greenhouses to meet winter vegetable demand.
On tourism and urban development, he stressed strict monitoring of Tourism Department schemes, effective rollout of the Ladakh Homestay Policy, and promotion of winter tourism. He also urged the development of more pedestrian pathways to make Leh and Kargil more walkable.
Reiterating the UT Administration’s commitment to equitable and sustainable progress, the Lt Governor directed all departments to pursue time-bound, outcome-oriented implementation so that development in Ladakh is truly reflective of the needs and hopes of its citizens.
