Project under SDP to cost Rs 276 lakh
Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, June 16: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today laid the foundation stone for a Mini Planetarium and Astro Globe at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Changthang region of the Union Territory. The initiative sanctioned under the Special Development Package (SDP), comes at an estimated cost of Rs 276.65 lakh and aims to promote scientific education, astro-tourism, stargazing, night sky programs, and generate local employment.
At the Baba Atomic Research Centre’s Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Telescope facility in Hanle, Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), and Dr K.K. Yadav from the Astrophysical Sciences Division, BARC presented the telescope’s current achievements and future plans.
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Applauding the efforts of IIA and the local community, Sitharaman remarked, “This project symbolizes a collaborative spirit between the scientific and public community, a true matter of national pride.” She urged the development of programs tailored for common public to spark interest in astrophysics through hands-on learning and proactively putting out content generated through these scientific centres.
During her journey to Hanle, Sitharaman engaged with delegations of Anganwadi workers, contractor associations, and BJP members from Nyoma, attentively listening to their concerns. At Rongo, she visited an animal husbandry site where she met with mostly female pashmina goat and yak herders. The Minister distributed goat-shearing machines to support their livelihood.
As part of the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan, Sitharaman interacted with campaign beneficiaries. She also presented a Rs 50 lakh cheque to Nyoma nomads under SBI’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. The funds will support the construction of 16 community tents, each accommodating up to 30 herders to help nomadic grazers during their movement.
The Departments of Sheep and Animal Husbandry hosted a live demonstration of the nomadic lifestyle. Additionally, the Department of S&TW showcased a mobile Anganwadi center for nomadic children and displayed millet-based dishes prepared within the center.
The Union Minister was accompanied by Ladakh’s Secretary of Tourism, Vikram Singh Malik; Secretary of S&TW Department, Shashanka Ala; Chief Conservator of Wildlife, Sajjad Mufti; DC Leh, Santosh Sukhdeve, SSP, Leh Shruti Arora, Scientists and technical team of Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanley, concern Directors and HoDs of UT Ladakh.
Meanwhile, Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, the chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, met Sitharaman here today and submitted a memorandum, which among other things sought a special package of Rs 1,000 crore to complete the vital infrastructure projects.
Akhoon during the meeting presented a comprehensive memorandum outlining several key developmental and infrastructural demands concerning the Kargil district, an official said.
The memorandum emphasized the urgent needs of the region and sought the Union Finance Ministry’s intervention in key sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, governance and tourism, he added.
The official said that a special package of Rs 1,000 crore was requested to complete vital infrastructure projects stalled due to insufficient funding.
The finances in Ladakh have become a big problem in the current financial year due to Rs 1,266 crore worth cuts in the budget by the Finance Ministry.
Among the other key demands presented include an upgradation of the existing 100-bed district hospital to a 200-bed hospital, establishment of a super specialty hospital or a Mini AIIMS and runway expansion and immediate commencement of civil air operations from Kargil, the official said.
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