Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Sept 28: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, today reviewed the position of preparedness of stocking of essential supplies for the winter with the concerned departments. Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson; Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tsering Angchuk, Executive Councillors- Tashi Namgyal Yakzee, Ghulam Mehdi; Executive Councillor from LAHDC Kargil, Mubarak Shah Naqvi; Advisor Umang Narula; Divisional Commissioner, Saugat Biswas; Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Shrikant Suse; Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Santosh Sukhdeve and head of departments (HoDs) were present in the meeting.
LG advised the concerned departments to complete the stocking of essential supplies for the winter by the end of October keeping the cold weather of Ladakh in mind. He also advised that the stock for the winter should last from October till April 2023. He emphasised the need for extensive planning for winter stocking for Zanskar and early completion of stocking, including fuel for vehicles and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for helicopters for the sub-division.
He requested the Food Corporation of India officials to build the stock of essential supplies for the winter at the earliest and suggested that the maximum lifting of winter stocks may be completed by the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department. He directed that tendering for the purchase of sugar for Antyodaya beneficiaries may be expedited. He advised the HoDs and Administrative Secretaries to monitor the stocking of essentials on a daily basis.
LG requested Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to increase the stocking of fuel in Zanskar. He advised DC Kargil to explore all possibilities to increase the capacity of storage of fuel for Zanskar.
He suggested that an advisory may be issued so that the Government departments and telecom companies may complete their stock for the winter at the earliest and there is no further need for lifting of fuel from the petrol pumps in the Zanskar sub-division. He suggested that essential commodities manufactured in October may be purchased for maximum validity, especially milk, salt and tomato puree. He advised that the Cooperatives Department and Market Association may target higher purchases of fresh vegetables for the winters.
LG Mathur suggested that the Director General, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), may be requested to keep Zoji-La till late in the winter and open at the earliest next year. He advised that cargo rates for airlifting sorties from outside Ladakh during the winter should be kept in check and assistance may be sought from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in this regard. He directed the Divisional Commissioner to hold a review meeting in this regard with the airlines. LG Mathur advised the Medical Department to supply stock for the winter to Zanskar from the existing stock from Leh and Kargil.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson, highlighted several issues, including providing DG sets and keeping a spare DG set for people in the trans-Singge La villages for the winter; providing subsidies to people of trans-Singge la area and Zanskar to avail of helicopter services during winter in case of emergencies; the need to engage human resources, especially operators and linesmen, in the Power Development Department; ensuing availability of chakki atta during the winter and purchase of fresh eggs along with fresh vegetables for the winter.
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