Excelsior Correspondent
LEH/KARGIL, Nov 27: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Ladakh, Umang Narula today instructed Civil Aviation Department (CAD) to resolve the issue of low cargo carrying capacity of airlines on priority.
The instructions were issued by the Advisor while chairing a meeting, which was attended by AOC Leh, Director Airport Authority of India, Leh and Managers of Air India, Spice Jet, Go-Air & Vistara Airlines.
The Commissioner Secretary Civil Aviation, Rigzin Samphael briefed the Advisor about the present issue of low tonnage of cargo being carried by the various commercial airlines. In view of the proposed project of the Department of Cooperatives of Ladakh, to import vegetables during peak winters, the role of commercial airlines has become critical.
During the meeting various representatives of the commercial airlines put forward the details of their individual companies with respect to the number of flights and proposed tonnage capacity.
The Advisor instructed the Civil Aviation Department to come out with the immediate mid-term and long term provisions for resolving the issue of low cargo carrying capacity of the airlines. He also instructed the department to have detailed meeting with Indian Oil Corporation, Indian Air Force and Commercial Airlines while preparing a road map for resolving the current issue.
Umang Narula directed the managers of the airlines to take steps to increase their cargo capacity and also plan for special cargo services to Ladakh. He appreciated the role of air force in transportation of stranded passengers, patients and vegetables during winter.
Meanwhile, the Advisor visited Kargil and held a meeting with the LAHDC members at Conference Hall Baroo. Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan, Executive Councillors, Councillors, SSP Kargil and Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil attended the meeting.
While responding to the issues and demands put forth by the CEC Kargil, the Advisor assured that the UT Administration will take concrete steps to provide permanent lasting solutions to all issues. The Advisor said that some of the issues like expansion of Kargil airport and operation of helicopter services to snow bound areas is already under the active consideration of the UT Administration and necessary steps would be taken on this front in near future.
Later, the Advisor chaired a meeting of the Directors and district officers and took stock of the developmental activities going on under different sectors. He also issued directions to the officers to accelerate the snow clearance operations on the Kargil Zanskar road so that the highway is thrown open for vehicular traffic at the earliest.
Reviewing the recent decision of the UT Administration to enhance the supply hours of electricity from 4 hours to 8 hours through DG sets in the district, the Advisor instructed the ADC to send daily reports to his office in this regard.
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