2-Day General Council meet approves draft outlay of 300 Cr District Capex Budget for FY 2023-24

LEH, April 19: LAHDC Leh conducted its General Council Meeting to discuss the Draft Capex Budget for the financial year 2023-24 under the chairmanship of the Chairman/CEC, Tashi Gyalson, at the conference hall of DC’s Office, Leh.

At the beginning of the first’s day’s session, CEC Gyalson condemned the conspiracy to defame H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and demanded an apology from the media houses & celebrities who tried misinterpreting the audience with a maligned video of His Holiness. The house also condemned the recent incident of a heinous crime of rape and attempt to murder a minor girl in Leh. A two-minute silence was observed to mourn the demise of Sub-Major Tsewang Morup (Vir Chakra) and the recent loss of life of a kid injured in explosion of a 24-year old bomb from Kargil War in Kurbathang. CEC Gyalson also extended congratulations on the grant of GI Tag for Ladakhi Pashmina Wool, Raktsey Karpo Apricot and Ladakhi Wood Carving.

CEC Tashi Gyalson felicitated the District HoDs led by DC/CEO LAHDC Leh, Shrikant Suse as an appreciation for showing exemplary efforts in the completion of planned projects and achieving a historic financial expenditure of around 98.53 in the District Plan of the financial year 2022-23. He also congratulated the house for achieving a historic expenditure ever under District Capex Budget with an expenditure of INR 229.91 crores out of INR 233.32 crores.

In his address to the house, CEC Tashi Gyalson informed that this year’s ceiling under District Capex Budget for the financial year 2023-24 is INR 300 Crores. He further shared the developmental achievements of the 6th LAHDC Leh to date which include sectors like Power, Renewable energy/Carbon neutrality initiative, Health, Agriculture, Roads & Buildings, Telecommunication, Tourism, Education, Sports, etc.

CEC Tashi Gyalson informed the house that priority has been given to Health and School Education Departments with a hike in annual allocation with an increase of 95 % for Health and 84% for School Education this year.

During the two-day-long discussions, departmental-wise plans were discussed whereas, on the second day, a detailed review of projects being executed by Central Executing Agencies was conducted under the chairmanship of CEC Tashi Gyalson. Agencies like Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), WAPCOS Limited, and PDCOR Limited. The executing agencies were asked to exercise on all the issues raised by the area Councillors during the meeting.

CEC Tashi Gyalson strongly condemned the work progress of projects allotted to WAPCOS Limited. The house unanimously decided to take up the matter with the Lt. Governor of Ladakh for necessary investigation and action from the UT Administration in this regard.

House also condemned the poor performances of  REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL)  Limited in exemptions of power sector projects under PMDP urban and rural scheme.

An extensive review of the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme in Leh District was conducted during the meeting. DC Leh gave a detailed overview of the status of JJM in the entire district. All the Councillors sought answers to their queries during the constituency-wise review of JJM works.

The meeting concluded with the house unanimously approving the draft outlay of budget under the District Plan for the financial year 2023-24. CEC Tashi Gyalson appreciated all the Councillors and the concerned heads of the Departments for actively participating in the 2-day extensive deliberations on various planned public projects.