Jammu/ April, 17: The Minister for Co-operative and Ladakh Affairs Chering Dorjay, Wednesday chaired a high level meeting and reviewed the transportation of essential supplies, including construction material to Ladakh region for the current year.
The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Councilor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, (LAHDC) Leh, Dr. Sonam Dhawa, MLA Zanskar Syed Bakir Hussain Rizvi, MLA Kargil Asgar Ali Karbalai, Financial Commissioner, Planning Development and Monitoring and Ladakh Affairs Department, B B Viyas, Commissioner Secretary PDD, Registrar Cooperative Societies J&K, Director FCS&CA Jammu, MD SRTC, Senior Regional Manager FCI, State Level Coordinator IOC, MD SFC, SE PWD, Kargil/Leh and other officers of concerned departments besides officers of BRO and Traffic Police.
The Minister received a brief on the requirement, stock and supply position with respect to essential commodities of food-grains, petroleum products, LPG, construction material, timber, firewood and other material. He directed the concerned agencies not to show any slackness in the supply, dumping and carriage of essential supplies and building material to Ladakh region in the coming summer season.
The Minister directed for putting in place an efficient supply chain to ensure advance lifting, stocking and dumping of essentials across Ladakh region, keeping in view difficult topography of the region.
He also instructed Deputy Commissioners Leh and Kargil to identify suitable location for installation of petrol pumps in the twin districts to cater to the local demand for fuel. “Since the area remains cut off for about six months during winter, extra efforts are required for making adequate stocking of essentials in the region in advance” maintained the Minister.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Khan, attended the meeting through video conferencing.
During the meeting, a proposal of supplies for 2017-18 in respect to both Leh and Kargil districts were discussed. The Minister directed Deputy Commissioners of Kargil and Leh to formulate the transportation plan with the involvement of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, so that the supply to the areas could be conducted hassle-free.
The Minister was briefed about the status of the present quota of ration lying with the district administrations. The concerned department was directed to ensure adequate supply of sugar and kerosene to meet the public demand.
The Minister instructed the MD, JK Cements, to supply cement to Leh and Kargil as per the demand projected in the proposal. He instructed the authorities to ensure supply of cement directly from source to supplier to rationalize the rates.
The Forest Department was asked to supply timber to the area to match the demand of the administration. He directed to establish more outlets to provide quality timber and firewood to the people as per their needs.
Officials of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation assured the chair that they would transport adequate number of LPG cylinders to the area to meet the demand.
The MD, JKSTRC, was directed to provide adequate number of trucks for smooth supply of material as per the transportation plan and maintain a mobile workshop, which includes a dozer and recovery crane. The authorities were directed to keep ready Dozer, Mobile Workshop and a recovery crane in the area from Gumri to Drass area for the convenience of the transporters.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, assured for regular monitoring of the movement of trucks and asked the DCs of Leh and Kargil to remain in touch for any other issue pertaining to transportation and any other matter. The authorities were also directed to allow LMVs without any restriction and ensure traffic regulation on the high way to avoid any inconvenience to the people.
Health and Medical Education Department was directed to keep available Critical Care Ambulances available preferably in the Zojila area to meet any eventuality.
