Leh, July 05, 2024: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) met the members of the Committee on Public Accounts from Karnataka Legislative Assembly on the Study Tour to Ladakh led by the Chairman of the Committee, Shri CC Patil, at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat. Advisor to the HLG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS, and ADGP Ladakh, Dr SD Singh Jamwal, IPS, were present in the meeting. The Committee on Public Accounts from Karnataka Legislative Assembly are on a study tour to Ladakh from July 4 to 7.
After a brief introduction of the members of the Committee, the Chairman of the Committee, Shri Patil apprised the HLG of the functioning of the Committee along with the objective of the study tour. The Committee members inquired about the functioning of various sectors in Ladakh, including agriculture, hydro-electric projects, industrial policy, the election of Hill Councils along with their roles in the governance, the crime rate in Ladakh and the healthcare facilities provided to the people of Ladakh, etc.
Stating that he is happy to interact with an illustrious team who have served the public for many years, the HLG informed the Committee members that Ladakh is still in a nascent stage after becoming a union territory in 2019. He also informed about the neglect faced by the people of Ladakh when the region was a part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in budget allocation, communication and connectivity, etc. He further informed about the challenges faced by the Administration in spending the funds allocated by the Government of India due to the absence of a proper mechanism. The HLG stated that the UT Administration is now ensuring proper and full utilisation of the funds allocated by the Government of India for the region’s development.
The HLG informed about his six-decades-long association with Karnataka state, especially Mysuru when he was commissioned in Infantry, the 18th Battalion of the Madras Regiment, in 1961. He also highlighted the challenges faced by the UT Administration, including ensuring the availability of drinking water for posterity, ensuring round-the-year road connectivity and reducing the mortality rate of pashmina goat kids, etc.
The HLG also felicitated the members of the Committee on Public Accounts.
Advisor to the HLG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, informed about various steps taken by the UT Administration in all the fields/sectors along with the challenges faced due to the short working season. He also highlighted initiatives taken to make Ladakh a carbon-neutral region.
