Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Dec 21: The two- day General Council review meeting, chaired by LAHDC Chairman Dr Sonam Dawa, began here today wherein Ladakh Affairs and Cooperative Minister Chering Dorje Lakrook was also present.
During the first day session, Agriculture sector, Education, Rural Development, Health, PWD, Wildlife were taken for discussion. Taking the review of each department, Chairman Dr Sonam Dawa expressed his dismay over twelve departments, including Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, Wildlife, Arts and Culture, Fisheries, Statical and Evolution Department for failing to show budget allocation expenditure.
Chairman informed the house the out of 45 crore of the plan budget, Government has already released 33 crores. He questioned the low expenditure of plan budget in spite of having 75 percent of the fund released and asked district officers not to give excuse of non availability of funds and warned for serious consequences in future as it reflects badly on the efficiency of the officers.
Minister Chering Dorje also gave his inputs and assured to expedite the fund release at Government level.
During the meeting, three resolutions were passed by the house. Councillor Matselang Jamyang Tsering Namgyal said that General Council should endorse demand of Member Parliament from Kangra Shanta Kumar for recommending Bharat Ratna to the Nobel Peace Laureate in recognition for the Dalai Lama being a great apostle of peace in the world today. The house unanimously passed the resolution urging the Government of India, particularly the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to confer the Tibetan spiritual leader with Bharat Ratna. The resolution also includes banning the use of fire cracker during Losar and other festival celebration.
Highlighting the contribution of former Minister late Sonam Wangyal towards Ladakhi society, Tingmosgang Constituency Councillor Tsering Morup moved a resolution to name the upcoming Indoor Stadium and Youth Hostel under construction near Spituk after late Sonam Wangyal and urged the house that his name should be recommended to the State Government for conferment of Kabir Pruskar for Wangyal’s contribution.
In the Agriculture sector Council stressed to focus on organic farming by diverting the fertilizer subsidy to local manures and in this regards Chairman advised Agriculture department to involve other allied sector to produce local manures.
During discussion on Agriculture sector, heated argument also takes place between ruling party Councilor Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and opposition Congress Councillor Gurmet Dorjay with Jamyang levelling allegation that Congress Government not maintained transparency in the transfer policy of Teachers/ Masters.
The house also raised its serious concern over poaching incident in Ladakh and demanded thorough investigation to book the culprit. Responding to query, Deputy Commissioner admitted that there was lack of coordination between Police and Wildlife Department to stop such practices.
Chief Conservator of Forest and Wildlife, Jigmet Takpa said that the department has about 20 wildlife guards to look after 45000 square kilometre of area. One guard has to look after 2500 square kilometre of the area, he added.
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