Kargil, Jan 22: With as many as five lives lost in Kargil due to unexploded ordnance in the year gone by, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd.) reviewed the demining efforts in Kurbathang Plateau, even as he directed the immediate initiation of the tendering process for the upcoming work season, to make the region safe and secure.
Unexploded ordnance are explosive ammunition including bombs, bullets, shells, grenades, mines etc that did not explode when they were employed, and now pose a risk of detonation.
It may be mentioned that at least five people have been killed in Kargil due to these unexploded bombs in the previous year.
In April 2023, a 13-year-old boy was killed and two others injured after a unbusted bomb from the 1999 India-Pakistan war in Kargil exploded near Astro Football ground at Kurbathang. In July 2023, a 32- year-old Army porter lost his life to an unexploded live bomb in Kargil, whereas in August 2023, three people were killed while 10 others sustained injuries in an explosion inside a scrap dealer’s shop in Kabadi Nallah area of Drass, suspiciously due to one such bomb.
Brigadier Mishra had ordered de-mining exercise to remove any unexploded shells at Kurbathang Plateau in April and has reviewed the process time to time, ever since.
Last month, Mishra directed for expediting the ongoing demining exercise undertaken at Kurbathang Plateau of Kargil district, before the winter sets in.
On Sunday, the Lieutenant Governor chaired a meeting regarding the demining of unexploded shells at Kurbathang Plateau, Kargil, an official spokesperson said.
The meeting was attended by Chairman and CEC, LAHDC, Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Maj. Gen. Sachin Malik, GOC 8Mountain Div, Secretary to LG, Ravinder Kumar, Executive Councilor I&FC/ PHE, LAHDC Kargil Kacho Mohammad Feroz, Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil, Shrikant Suse, Superintendent of Police Kargil, Anayat Ali Chowdhary, col Amit Sharma, CO 8 MTN DIV Eng Regt, Maj Gen Hemant Joneja (Retd), and other concerned officers and officials.
The LG was briefed by Engineering Regiment PVC on demining efforts, detailing the total land to be cleared from unexploded shells and progress on sanitizing the Kurbathang Plateau.
“The Lieutenant Governor has promptly directed the immediate initiation of the tendering process for the upcoming work season, emphasizing efficiency for the agency-assigned task,” said the spokesperson.
Additionally, he directed thorough sanitization of the area and emphasized the completion of the task within the designated timeframe.
The meeting extensively addressed the roles of the Revenue, R&B, and Police departments, delving into comprehensive discussions on their respective responsibilities.
Various suggestions surfaced during the meeting, with officers actively engaging in thorough discussions to explore and consider the various proposed ideas and technical parameters were also discussed thoroughly.
Meanwhile, several delegations called on Lieutenant Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd.) at Raj Niwas, Kargil on the fifth day of his visit to Kargil, the spokesperson said.
Secretary to LG, Ravinder Kumar; Deputy Commissioner and CEO, LAHDC, Kargil, Shrikant Suse; Superintendent of Police, Kargil, Anayat Ali Chowdhary and Joint Director, Information, Ladakh, Imteeaz Kacho were present on the occasion.
A delegation led by Chairman and CEC of LAHDC Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon comprising Executive Councillor, Social Welfare- Animal Husbandry-Agriculture Agha Syed Mujtaba Mussavi and Executive Councillor I&FC-PHE-Tourism, Kacho Mohammad Feroz called on the Lieutenant Governor in Kargil and presented a memorandum of various crucial demands/issues regarding welfare and developmental works.
The Lieutenant Governor assured that all the demands will be examined by the concerned departments and the needful will be done as per norms within a specific time-frame.
Mujtaba Mussavi also presented a memorandum of demands and issues of TSG Block which included upgradation of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Trespone to Community Health Centre (CHC). In this regard, Lieutenant Governor directed the Director, Health Services, Ladakh to prioritize and formulate a comprehensive plan for upgradation of PHCs all over Ladakh as per norms.
A delegation of Part-time Sweepers of Health Department called on the Lieutenant Governor and sought enhancement of their honorarium which is currently quite meagre.
While assuring them of early action, Lieutenant Governor directed his Secretary to follow the case for early resolution. Similarly, the delegation of NHM’s Paramedical Staff sought enhancement of their honorarium. In this regard, Lieutenant Governor instructed the Director, Health Services to take up their case with the Union Health Ministry again.
On the other hand, two Community Health Officers (CHO) of NHM, who had not been able to clear the mandatory exam through IGNOU within the six months of their engagement, sought Lieutenant Governor’s intervention to grant them relaxation as they had failed to produce the requisite certificate.
While advising them to attempt the exam again and pass it, Lieutenant Governor directed the Director, Health Services to take up with IGNOU the matter regrading a mercy chance to the candidates once again.
A delegation of Class-IV staff of Agriculture Department called on the Lieutenant Governor and requested for relaxation of the condition of undergoing the Basic Agriculture Training (BAT) in the Agriculture Subordinate Service Recruitment Rules as they have not been promoted as they had not been deputed from the training all this while.
He was also informed that some Class-IV staff are on the verge of retirement. The Lieutenant Governor said that he will direct the Administrative Secretary, Agriculture to look into the matter and take necessary action as per norms.
A delegation of Village Thasgam (Drass Sub-Division) also called on the Lieutenant Governor submitting a memorandum of various demands and highlighting their grievance concerning the widening of the National Highway in their village which will affect their houses.
The members of the delegation sought his intervention in diverting the National Highway away from their village. He was also told that if they are made to shift from the existing location, there is no other place to go as the hilly slopes are prone to slides.
Lieutenant Governor assured them of help and directed that Border Road Organization (BRO) be asked to examine the matter in accordance with the established norms.
The Lieutenant Governor interacted with various other delegations and individuals from across the District including officials of various departments. He gave a patient hearing to all their issues and said that their genuine demands will be looked into as per norms within specific time-lines.
