LEH: Lieutenant Governor Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) and First Lady Neelam Mishra inaugurated the Mega Plantation Drive organised by Live to Love, Young Drukpa Association and Trees for Life with support from UT Administration and LAHDC Leh at Liktsey village in the Rong Churgyud area.
He and the First Lady planted saplings at the site of the plantation drive. Around 1 lakh saplings were planted at Liktsey village.
Appreciating the organisers and all the organisations and departments, the elected representatives and villagers of the Rong Churgyud area along with monks and nuns for conducting the plantation drive at such a large scale, HLG stated that the sapling will turn into an orchard and attract everyone to the place and will prove beneficial for the current as well as the future generations.
He stated that more such plantation drives should be carried out in Ladakh. Highlighting efforts made by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and also the UT Administration, Hill Councils and the PRIs for the holistic development of Ladakh, he stated that the plantation drive is a step towards the overall development of the region.
Emphasising the importance of judicious and proper utilisation of the budget allocated by the Centre for the development of Ladakh, LG informed about chairing the meeting to finalise the Annual Action Plans of UT Ladakh and LAHDCs under SDP & State Sector (Capex) to ensure that funds are utilised for the development of even the remotest corner of Ladakh.
He also informed about the decision taken in the meeting to ensure that none of the funds allocated by the Centre to UT Ladakh should be returned to the government and instead fully utilise the funds for development activities to meet the aspirations of the people of the region.
He further informed about the decision taken for carrying out inter-departmental fund transfers, wherever needed, minimum three months before the end of the Financial Year and in no case at the end of the Financial Year.
LG informed that the budget allocated by the Centre will be distributed at all levels for carrying out developmental activities for the benefit and ease of the people of Ladakh.
LG informed about his endeavour to meet as many people of Ladakh as possible to understand the issues faced by the people of Ladakh and take necessary measures to resolve those issues. He also informed about the instructions issued to the Administrative/Departmental Secretaries and Head of Departments to meet the citizens of Ladakh at least thrice a week to resolve the issues faced by them. He also shared his plan to revive the Back to Villages programme to assess the amenities and development activities required in the remote villages of Ladakh so that necessary measures can be taken to provide benefits and ease to the villagers.
LG informed about the plan to establish a co-ed Sainik School with the best faculty in Ladakh to provide the best possible education to the youth of Ladakh. He sought cooperation from the people of Ladakh in this regard and also to make Ladakh a ‘Corruption and Delay-Free’ UT. He hoped to see Ladakh grow into one of the best Union Territories of India.
LG also inaugurated the apple and apricot orchard at the Lardho-Liktsey plantation site.
His Eminence Khamtak Rinpoche Jigmet Nawang Namgail welcomed the guests and informed about His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa Rinpoche’s vision to conduct plantation drives and green initiatives such as eco-friendly modes of transportation such as cycling for the protection of the environment and the benefit of all sentient beings. He informed about the plan to conduct such plantation drives in the future.
Earlier, everyone took the pledge to protect the environment as a part of the Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) concept introduced by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at COP26 in Glasgow.
Nuns from the Drukpa sect, popularly known as Kung-Fu Nuns, performed dragon dance on the occasion.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson; Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh, Stanzin Chosphel; His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche; His Eminence Khamtak Rinpoche Jigmet Nawang Namgyal and other venerable rinpoches along with monks/nuns of the Drukpa sect; Councillor, Kungyam, Thinles Nurboo and other Councillors from LAHDC Leh; PRI representatives; President, LBA, Thupstan Chhewang; President, All Ladakh Gonpa Association, Acharya Stanzin Wangtak; President, Anjuman Imamia, Ashraf Ali Barcha; President, Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam, Dr Abdul Qayoom; Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Jigmet Takpa; Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Shrikant Suse; GOC 3rd Infantry Division Kharu, Major Gen PK Mishra; officials from the Ladakh Police, Indian Army, ITBP; government officials, villagers from the Rong Churgyud area and volunteers from different parts of Ladakh were present during the plantation drive.
