Leh, July O2: In a significant development, a delegation from the Taxi Union Zanskar, led by President Shri Stanzin Tundup, met with the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat today. The meeting, which aimed to address pressing issues faced by the taxi drivers from Zanskar, also saw the participation of key officials including Advisor to the HLG Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Commissioner/Secretary to the HLG Shri L Franklin, IAS; Secretary Transport Shri Amit Sharma, IAS; and Under Secretary Transport Shri Mohit Sharma, JKAS.
During the meeting, Shri Tundup detailed the operational challenges faced by the Taxi Union Zanskar, which has been a registered entity since 2006, providing commercial taxi services in the Zanskar sub-division. He highlighted a recent issue where taxis registered at ARTO Leh, with registration number JK10, were being prohibited from operating in Kargil district by the Ladakh Police. This restriction, according to Shri Tundup, has led to the seizure of some taxis and significantly impacted the livelihoods of the drivers during the peak tourist season.
The HLG acknowledged the issue and was informed by Advisor Dr Pawan Kotwal that the existing regulations stipulate that vehicles registered at ARTO Leh are not permitted to operate in Kargil and vice-versa. In response, the HLG directed Secretary of the Transport Department to convene a meeting between the Taxi Union Zanskar and both RTOs to explore viable solutions and address the operational concerns of the taxi drivers.
In a separate but equally important meeting, officials from the Municipal Committee Leh and the Power Development Department, led by Executive Officer Shri Stanzin Rabgais, also met with the Lieutenant Governor. The discussion focused on the pressing issue of cleanliness and sanitation in Leh town, particularly concerning the maintenance of transformer enclosures.
The HLG expressed concerns over the deteriorating state of cleanliness and its impact on the aesthetic appeal of Leh town, which is a significant tourist destination. He emphasized the need for immediate action to address these concerns and warned of disciplinary measures against officers failing to improve the town’s cleanliness within the next three days.
