Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 22: Kishtwar will soon have an airport under the Government of India’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme and it will be developed by further extending the existing air-strip which is presently used for landing of helicopters.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed this when a delegation led by Deputy Chief Executive Councilor (CEC), LAHDC Leh, Gyal P. Wangyal called on him to request him to get Nubra in Ladakh included for an airport under UDAN,as he had done for Kishtwar.
As of now, Dr Jitendra Singh informed the members of delegation that besides Kishtwar, two other spots in Jammu & Kashmir have been identified to be included to develop airports under UDAN scheme, which include Kargil in Ladakh and Thois in Siachen region. He said, since the requirement of Nubra has been brought to his notice, he will certainly take this also up with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The work on Kishtwar airport and the extension of the existing air-strip, Dr Jitendra Singh said, has got delayed because of some formalities to be completed in the MoU with the Ministry of Defence. However, now the decks have been cleared and the work is likely to start soon, subject to the constraints of the Code of Conduct, he added.
Members of delegation submitted a representation stating that an airport for Nubra was an important requirement because to reach the Nubra Valley, one has to pass through Khardung-La Pass which is the highest motorable Pass in the world. During peak winter months, this road connection remains closed for days and weeks together and the people of Nubra have no other alternative means of transport. The representation also cited a recent incident at Khardung-La Pass where an avalanche buried 10 people and the dead bodies of 7 of them were recovered while 3 remained untraced.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that he would take up the issue with the concerned Ministry and write a personal letter to the Union Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu today itself making a strong endorsement for the demand for an airport at Nubra.
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