LEH: Amid the increasing heat along the Line of Actual Control, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met with an official delegation from Ladakh including the member of parliament from the union territory, besides representatives from both the hill councils of the region.
A number of other issues requiring immediate attention of the defence minister including the CTA land issue, besides those concerning the public welfare in the cold desert were also raised with the minister in the meeting, officials said.
The delegation which comprised of Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Leh Tashi Gyalson, Member Parliament in Lok Sabha from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, along with Stanzin Lakpa, the LAHDC Kargil Councillor from Cha called on Rajnath Singh in New Delhi this afternoon.
At the outset of the meeting, the defence minister apprised the delegation of the recent decisions of expediting the infrastructure projects in Ladakh along the border with China, besides the impetus being given to enhance connectivity for the armed forces in the union territory.
Welcoming the decisions, the delegation assured full support to the defence ministry and the union government in their endeavours to take Ladakh ahead on the path of development.
In their interaction with the defence minister, the delegation discussed a number of issues pertaining to the
Ladakh region and put forth a few demands to Singh for consideration and immediate intervention from his office.
“The major agendas of discussions included vacating the Central Tibetan Administration Land at Melong Thang in Leh, besides the Thoise land issue for construction of Civil Airport in Nubra,” an official informed The Earth News, adding that the defence minister was apprised of these issues in their meeting in June 2021 too, but no progress has been made on these fronts.
Over one thousand kanals of the land allotted to Tibetans by the district administration were found to be sold illegally by Tibetans to the locals over the years.
“Resumption of regular travel of Civilian in IAF Aircraft from Thoise Nubra and Leh during winter months, NPD Road, BRO Labour, Siachen Porters wages and upper age limit issue were also discussed in the meeting,” an official spokesman said.
State President of Kisan Morcha Leh and Chairman, Cooperative Marketing Society, Tsering Motup raised the issue of local farmers vegetable supply to army on the prevailing negotiated rates and to avoid e-tender system so that local farmers get maximum advantage and to support local home grown organic vegetables, with the defence minister.
The defence minister Rajnath Singh gave a patient hearing to all the issues raised by the delegation and assured them of early redressal, said the spokesperson.
Executive Member of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha UT Ladakh, Stanzin Chotak and State Media Secretary of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha UT Ladakh Zakir Zakiri were also the part of the delegation.