New Delhi, March 19 A high-level delegation from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, led by Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor Mohd Jaffer Akhoon and Member of Parliament Mohammad Haneefa Jan, met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah here on Thursday.
The delegation, which also included Executive Councillor Zakir Hussain, submitted a memorandum seeking the operationalisation of civilian flights from Kargil.
The leaders of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) requested an extension of the existing runway and the establishment of a full-fledged civilian airport to ensure connectivity, especially during the winter months when surface routes remain closed.
The delegation also urged for district status for the Sankoo and Shakar-Chiktan subdivisions. They noted that these "subdivisions are among the most populous and oldest in the Kargil district and meet all necessary criteria."
The delegation specifically requested their inclusion in the forthcoming official notification, along with other newly announced districts in Ladakh, according to a statement from the council.
The leaders also sought restoration of Administrative Approval and Expenditure Sanction powers up to Rs 5 crore for the Deputy Commissioner and CEO of LAHDC Kargil to ensure the timely execution of developmental works at the district level.
In the health and education sectors, the delegation sought sanction of a 200-bedded hospital for Kargil, citing the inadequate infrastructure and increasing patient load at the existing 100-bedded facility.
Furthermore, the Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Akhnoon urged for the early execution and operationalisation of the already sanctioned Engineering College in Kargil and called for the establishment of an Agricultural University to strengthen higher education and support the agrarian economy of the region, the council said in its statement.
The memorandum also sought the establishment of a Women's Degree College at Sankoo to facilitate access to higher education for girls and eliminate the hardships they face in pursuing education outside the district.
CEC Akhoon also raised the issue of five already approved Hydro Electric Projects and requested the home minister to issue necessary instructions to the concerned ministries for their early execution and completion.
Highlighting the growing exports of apricots and apples to national and international markets, the delegation sought Home Minister Amit Shah's intervention to secure a special financial package for the tourism, agriculture, and horticulture sectors, along with the creation of a dedicated Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) for the region.