Despite severe cold, the 74th Republic Day was celebrated today with enthusiasm and patriotic fervour here at Khree Sultan Chow Sports Stadium, Bemathang, Kargil where the Chairman/CEC, LAHDC, Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan unfurled the National Flag.
At the stadium, the CEC took salute at an impressive march past presented by contingents of Ladakh Police, police band party, NCC Cadets, school contingents etc.
Executive Councilor, RD, Tourism and Zanskar Affairs, Er Phunchok Tashi, EC Health, Mohsin Ali, EC Social Welfare Syed Mehdi Fazily, Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil, Santosh Sukhadeve, SSP Anayat Ali Choudhary, Brigade Commander 121 Brigade, Chairman Hajj Committee Ladakh, Mohd Ali Majaz, Director School Education Ladakh, Safdar Ali, Joint Director Information, Ladakh, Imteeaz Kacho, Flight Lieutenant from Airforce, Senior Officers, District Officers, BDC Chairpersons, Councilors, PRI members, heads/representatives of various religious, political, social organizations, District Awardees, sports persons, specially-abled persons, students and a huge gathering of public were present on the occasion.
While congratulating people on Republic Day, the CEC recalled the contribution of makers of the Indian Constitution and supreme sacrifices of national heroes who laid down their lives for the country.
He hailed the services of the Army, paramilitary forces and police in guarding the frontiers in harsh conditions and for maintaining peace, order and internal security in the country.
Khan said our leaders sacrificed their lives for future of the nation and made India a democratic country. “The biggest tribute to them is that if we can work on the principles of peace and justice for the development of the country,” he said.
The CEC said this constitution, enacted on January 26, 1950, gave the country the status of an independent democracy. He said this day inspires us to take our country to new heights of development and prosperity through patriotism, sacrifice and tireless efforts.
He said these were the virtues for which our great leaders sacrificed their lives for a better tomorrow and gave us a chance to breathe in a free and prosperous country.
“Therefore, this auspicious day is a sign of their dreams coming true and that is why today they deserve the utmost respect,” he said.
“We have to pledge under the national flag that each and every one of us will actively participate in the development of our village, our district and our country with the spirit of patriotism and philanthropy,” he said.
While highlighting the developmental activities in Kargil district, he said, LAHDC is committed for development of the district so that it can set new heights in future adding that they are making each and every sector stable and it is yielding encouraging results.
The CEC said the development process in health, PWD, sports, rural development etc. is going in full swing and many vital decisions are being taken to develop other sectors as well.
He reiterated that health sector is one of the priority sectors of the LAHDC. Therefore to provide better health facilities to people, the New District Hospital Kurbathang Kargil having a capacity of 300 beds was made functional at a cost of Rs 40 crore and 37 lakhs.
He said the new hospital has improved the healthcare services in the district and has added to the existing infrastructure.
Further, to equip the district hospital with modern medical equipment, a low-radiation CT Scan machine has also been installed at a cost of Rs 6 crore and 90 lakhs.
The CE said with the installation of oxygen plants in Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), the infrastructure of these facilities has been strengthened and patients are taking the maximum benefit.
Khan further said in order to increase the manpower in hospitals doctors and paramedical staffs were appointed under the National Health Mission (NHM) scheme while Consultant Surgeons and Anaesthetists were also appointed along with the allied manpower to carry out routine surgeries at Community Health Centre, Sankoo.
Moreover, the construction works of Health and Wellness Centres at Sangra, Tacha, Tungri, Skanbo Thing and Nun-Amche have been completed under the CAPEX budget.
The CEC said LAHDC is committed to improve the quality of education in the district and this year, Councilor Model Schools were built in various blocks by developing the infrastructure of 26 schools at a cost of Rs 4 cr.
He said in these schools, 50 percent of the expenditure has been provided from the District Plan and 50 percent from the Councilor’s Funds.
Apart from this, Khan said 6 more buses have been purchased at a cost of Rs 01 cr to provide better transport facilities to children, thus providing transport facilities for 12 Higher Secondary Schools. Notably, Rs 9 crore and 20 lakhs has been dedicated for expanding the infrastructure of schools in the district.
The CEC said that the Hill Council has provided laptops at a cost of Rs 15.5 lakh on 75 percent subsidy to meritorious students of 10th and 12th at block level of the district.
While talking about the agriculture sector, Khan said most of the population of the district is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors and it plays an important source of income.
He said through different schemes, 422 pack houses have been constructed at a cost of Rs 8 cr and 75 lakhs to provide better facilities for training and packing fruits for the farmers.
Apart from this, 2,439 polycarbonate sheets and UV films of Rs 73 lakh and 28 thousand are being distributed to deserving farmers to increase vegetable production in the district.
Khan said seeds of high varieties of Rs 58 lakh and 67 thousand are being distributed to the farmers and it is aimed to improve the vegetable produce locally.
The CEC said it has always been an endeavour of the Hill Council to provide better marketing facilities outside the district for the fresh fruits of the district especially apricot which is famous in the country and abroad.
Khan expressed happiness on the fact that for the first time in the history of Kargil, apricot was successfully exported from the district and 20 tons of fresh apricots of Rs 32 lakhs were delivered to different markets of the country as well as outside the country.
The CEC said that after UT Ladakh’s formation, Kargil Subordinate Service Recruitment Board (KSSRB) has recruited nearly 400 non-gazetted posts. He also said exams for filling 797 vacancies were conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the final results of which are expected soon.
Apart from this, Khan said the Central Government and the UT Administration need to start the recruitment process as soon as possible by forming a procedure for filling up the vacant gazetted posts in various departments.
Moreover, the CEC said a notification has been issued recently to fill 451 vacancies of district-level posts and the examination date will also be announced soon.
Further, he informed that the KSSRB has launched an online portal under the CSR scheme to facilitate the submission of application forms.
Regarding R&B sector, he said during the current financial year, under SDP, CAPEX and State Sector, construction works of 49 km of connecting roads was completed and macadamization work on 46 km of roads has been completed. Apart from this, under SDP and SRF, 15 projects at a cost of Rs 308 cr have been approved.
The CEC further said that construction works on additional buildings at a cost of Rs 7 cr and 87 lakhs has been completed to provide better accommodation facilities to travellers and patients in Srinagar. He said it has a seating capacity of 60 people along with a multi-purpose hall and will be dedicated to the public very soon.
Moreover, he said the construction of a four-storied Girls’ Hostel at a cost of Rs 15 cr has been completed in Sidra, Jammu. Khan said the hostel can accommodate 160 female students and will be dedicated in the name of female students in March this year.
Regarding Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) works, the CEC informed that works on 164 water supply schemes of Rs 600 cr is going in full swing and the works are expected to be completed in 2023. He added that 19,295 families of 125 villages will get benefit after the completion of these schemes.
Khan said in view of snowfall, six snow cutter blower machines of international standard have been brought under the SDP scheme at a cost of Rs 24 cr adding that these machines will improve the machinery strength of the Mechanical Department.
He also said that 7,300 quintals of fodder are being distributed under the subsidy component at a cost of Rs 3.34 lakh to people of drought-prone areas of the district.
The CEC said the council will also encourage all sportsmen who have won awards and medals at the national and international level platforms. Considering the potential of traditional and winter sports in the district, he said 522 sets of ice hockey, snow skis and archery has been provided to the players at a cost of Rs 58 lakhs.
He said in this regard, the annual CEC Ice Hockey Cup will be held at a larger scale from the upcoming year. In this annual tournament, state and national level players will be invited to participate to promote Kargil as a winter sports destination and also encourage local players.
Khan also congratulated Shahnaz Parveen for winning the gold medal in the recently held All India University Taekwondo Championship.
The CEC informed that apart from this, various civil works on international standard Ice Hockey Rink, which is under construction, at a cost of Rs 36 cores at Kurbathang have been completed and the mechanical works are pending which are likely to be completed soon.
He also said that that the construction work of Ice Hockey Rink at Bemathang at a cost of Rs 9 crore and 51 lakhs is under construction.
Khan also congratulated students who qualified this year’s NEET and JEE mains exams, especially Nawaz Ali of Trespone, who secured first position in NEET with 631 marks. He also congratulated the state awardees in various fields of the district.
The CEC informed that at present, the construction works on Zojila tunnel on both Minamarg and Baltal sides is in full swing despite severe cold. The construction work of 2,660 meters from Minamarg side and 2640 meters from Baltal side has been completed.
Khan thanked Central Government, especially the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gatkare for continuing the work on the tunnel with speed and hoped that the tunnel will be completed within the stipulated time.
He said the Kargil Hill Council is committed and trying best to accelerate the work to make Kargil district strong and stable. Khan said the Executive Councilors and Councilors are working tirelessly for the development of Kargil adding that it is the result of their sincere cooperation that they are able to speed up the development activities in the district.
The CEC expressed sincere gratitude to the Central Government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who approved a generous budget for the overall development of Ladakh.
He also expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor of UT Ladakh, RK Mathur and the UT Administration for their special support for the developmental works of Kargil.
Khan thanked all district officers, especially Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve and SSP Kargil, Inayat Ali Chaudhary and added that they are always available and attentive for requests and public service which is very encouraging.
The CEC also thanked the whole District Administration, Police Department, other departments and all the Officers and employees, operators, labourers, drivers and volunteers of Project Vijayak, who kept the Zojila Pass open till January 06, despite the severe cold and adverse weather conditions.
Apart from this, Khan thanked all those officers whose hard work and dedication are making progress in development activities possible within the stipulated period.
The CEC expressed gratitude to the media friends who are playing an important role in publicizing the happenings and development works in the district.
Khan thanked the UT Administration for forming Hajj Committee, Ladakh and hoped that the committee would provide facilities to Hajj pilgrims of Ladakh, especially Kargil district.
In the end, the CEC requested people of Kargil, especially all religious, political and social institutions, to offer their support in making Kargil district prosperous and developed.
Meanwhile, colorful cultural programs were also presented by student of various government and private schools at the Republic Day function that enthralled the audiences.
Later, the CEC and other dignitaries distributed mementos and certificates among employees of various departments, meritorious students, members of NGOs, volunteers, and individuals for their extraordinary performances and contribution to public welfare. Prizes were also distributed among the participants of the march past and cultural programs.
