Over 26% increase in allocation to LAHDCs for current year
Says all out efforts being made to tap renewable energy
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 13: In order to strengthen the administration in Ladakh, the Union Government has fixed the cadre strength of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) in the Union Territory. Moreover, financial assistance to both the Hill Development Councils has been substantially increased for creation of public infrastructure.
This has been stated by the Ministry of Home Affairs in response to the observations and recommendations made by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in the 242nd report on demands for grants (2023-24) of MHA.
Pointing towards the recommendation regarding strengthening of administrative institutions and infrastructure along with delegation of powers to the local administrative units in the UT of Ladakh, the MHA said, “to strengthen the administration, the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension has fixed the cadre strength of IAS, IPS and IFS as 10, 10 and 7 respectively in the UT of Ladakh”.
“Financial powers have been delegated to Lieutenant Governor and his subordinate authorities from time to time. Moreover, after the formation of the UT of Ladakh, 1034 regular appointments have been made and 1893 persons have been engaged through outsourcing, contractual engagement and hiring under Centrally Sponsored Schemes”, the MHA said.
Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation (SIDCO) has been set up for infrastructure and industrial development of the UT of Ladakh and Central Public Sector Undertakings are also being roped in to take up infrastructure works as per requirement, the Ministry said in the Action Taken Report.
Regarding the observation of the Standing Committee about curtailment in the allocation for Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil, the MHA said, “there is no curtailment in the allocation” and substantiated the same by giving figures of 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.
“The Revised Estimates (RE) for LAHDC Leh and Kargil during 2022-23 were Rs 276.14 crore and Rs 278.55 crore respectively. The allocations to LAHDC, Leh and LAHDC, Kargil in the financial year 2023-24 have been increased to Rs 334.68 crore and Rs 333.32 crore respectively leading to an approximate increase of 26.68% and 26.12% in the allocation for the current financial year over the last financial year for LAHDC Leh and Kargil respectively as compared to the BE for the financial year 2022-23”, the MHA said.
About harnessing renewable energy sources to cater to the power requirement of the UT, the Ministry said that Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has done an assessment of solar power potential of Ladakh, and estimated a potential of 35 GW. “A 50 MWP solar plant with 20 MW AC and 50 MWh battery storage system at Phey, Leh is under construction by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)”, the Minister added.
For assessing the wind power potential, National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) and SECI have installed wind masts at various locations in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh for collecting wind data. Moreover, ONGC Energy Center (OEC) is also taking up a pilot project of developing Geothermal Energy in Puga valley by initial drilling and setting up a 1 MW Geothermal energy plant and conducting further studies for commercial development.
“National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) is taking up a pilot project of setting up green hydrogen plant which will be powering fuel cell based electric vehicles (5 buses) for clean mobility in Ladakh. NTPC is also setting up 1.7 MW solar plant for powering the hydrogen plant”, the MHA said.
Regarding increase in the green cover, the Action Taken Report said that Forest Department of the UT of Ladakh has undertaken a mega plantation drive with a target of planting about 20 lakh plants during the next three years. During the current financial year (2023-24), the Forest Department has planned to plant about 15.80 lakh saplings covering an area of about 1460 hectares under different schemes like Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Special Development Package (SDP), District Plan.
Moreover, saplings of poplar, willow and sea buckthorn, etc will be planted mostly on community, Gonpa and other Governmental lands.
About medical infrastructure, the MHA said that land measuring 737 kanals and 18 marlas has been allotted at Spituk Pharka in Leh for establishment of new Medical College and for early commencement of the operation of the new Medical college, UT of Ladakh has been advised to proceed with 50 seated Medical College in Leh, initially, with a provision to expand the same to 100 seats in subsequent phases and to access the necessary infrastructure and manpower accordingly.
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