Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Jan 13: The Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson chaired a meeting to discuss grievances faced by local labourers in the Project Vijayak of the Border Road Organization (BRO).
The meeting was attended by Commander, 16 Vijayak, D N Dahat, Executive Engineer Project Vijayak, B Kishan, Deputy Chairman, Tsering Angchuk, Executive Councilor (EC) for Minority & Forest, Ghulam Mehdi, respective Councillors of Saspol, Panamic, Skurbuchan, Lamayuru, Lungnak (Zangskar) and concerned village representatives from Western Ladakh.
Commander Dahat updated CEC Gyalson that BRO has been working on creating better working conditions for the local labourers recruited in BRO. He informed the Chair that BRO has around 550 local labourers recruited out of 700 in Nubra region and 400 in the western part of Ladakh. 150 local labourers have been working for a long time with BRO in Hanu-Thang, Skurbuchan and Domkhar regions. He also said that, since there are less active construction works during the winters, they have to disengage local labourers in some areas. The recruitment drive will recommence in the month of February and March.
Councillor Lungnak (Zanskar) raised the issues on the progress of Nimo – Padum – Darcha road and requested Commander, Vijayak to speed up the work progress.
Councillors from Nubra appreciated the work done by Project Vijayak in the region, especially at Khardong-la and widening of roads towards Nubra valley. Concerned councillors requested Commander, Project Vijayak to survey a new route between Khardong and Khalsar village for re-alignment and also requested increment of wages for the labourers. For this, Commander Dahat assured taking up the issue in the next phase of re-alignment.
Councillors from Sham region and village representatives raised the issues faced by local labourers working with BRO in their respective constituencies with the Commander. They requested Commander Dahat to work on the blind curve road between Takmachik and Domkhar where there have been few cases of road accidents in the past. They also highlighted issues concerning transparency of recruitment.
Taking note of the grievances, CEC Gyalson directed Commander 16 Vijayak, to immediately look into the matter and settle it at the earliest. Commander, Dahat and Executive Engineer Kishan assured their help in settling these issues and grievances at the earliest.