Administrative Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Ladakh Kacho Mehboob Ali Khan concludes 4-day visit to Nubra, Galwan Valley, Durbuk and adjoining areas of Changthang

LEH, May 10: Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Ladakh Kacho Mehboob Ali Khan concluded his 4-day visit starting from 5^th May onwards to Nubra, Galwan Valley, Durbuk and adjoining areas of Changthang.

During the visit, the Secretary, Tourism visited Diskit, Nubra and along the route he inspected the ongoing works on wayside amenities and viewpoints at South Pullu, North Pullu and Khardung La Pass respectively. He also inspected the ongoing repair works at Diskit tourist Dak-Bunglow.

The Secretary, Tourism attended the Buddha Purnima function at Diskit Photang and took stock of the ongoing works on the public amenities at the Photang. He directed the Engineers of Leh Development Authority to complete the ongoing works on public amenities at the earliest. The Secretary after visiting the Diskit monastery and Buddha statue site directed the Engineers of LDA to prepare DPR for the proposed improvement of public amenities such as parking space near the Buddha statue and improvement of public gathering ground near the Photang in front of the Buddha Statue and path for water supply to the Diskit Monastery.

The Secretary also visited the Diskit Sand Dunes site and instructed the officers of Leh Development Authority to plan the execution of the proposed tourist facilities works.

The next day Secretary, Tourism and Culture visited the Galwan Valley area and discussed opening of the border areas upto Daulat Beig Olde with the army authorities, BRO officers and ITBP officers and had a first-hand experience of the challenges expected to face in case this area is opened for tourism. It is felt that further consultations are required for opening this route.

Secretary Khan had a meeting with the SDM, Durbuk at Tangtse and discussed with him proper regulation of tourist flow along the Changla-Pangong Lake route in view of the ongoing widening work along this route. He emphasized on cleanliness and maintenance of tourist spots and facilities along the tourist routes and at Pangong in particular. At Pangong the Secretary appreciated the efforts being made to keep Pangong area clean by RDD and emphasised on persistent efforts to make cleanliness and hygiene a habit.  

On the way back via Hanle, the Secretary, Tourism visited the Rezang La War Memorial and paid homage and respects to the martyrs of the Indian Army who sacrificed their life at Rezang La on 18^th November 1962 during the Indo-China war of 1962. He discussed various issues related to tourist visits and movements along this route with the officers of Durbuk Sub-division and the army unit officers.

Visiting the site at Punguk, Hanle where the Tourism department has installed a telescope for promotion of Astro-tourism Secretary, Khan discussed the modalities and preparations required for operationalization of the telescope with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Engineers. Enroute to Leh the Secretary took stock of cleanliness and maintenance of the Hot-spring at Chumathang.