Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 23: Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Rigzin Spalbar today urged the Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar to ensure restoration and rehabilitation work in the district through Army under Operation Sadhbhavana for bringing the normal life affected due to recent heavy rains and flash floods back on track.
In a memorandum submitted to the visiting Defence Minister, the CEC said, “the recent multiple clouds burst and incessant rains have brought havoc and there is no village left untouched by the catastrophe. The scale of damage is more than that of 2010 flash floods”, adding “it was only because of alertness of administration, army and paramilitary that human casualties could be avoided”.
“Since army is present where there is little or no presence of administration in the district, it is submitted that keeping in tune with the objectives of Operation Sadhbhavana, the Army may be directed to take up restoration and rehabilitation works”, he said, adding “with this the distressed people of Leh district will be immensely benefited”.
He also urged the Defence Minister to ensure lifting of restrictions imposed by the Army on developmental works in border areas and provide relaxation for transporters of Ladakh region in respect of the “Vintage of Vehicle” clause. “The Transport Cooperative Societies of the region are facing problems in engaging their vehicles with the Army due to the clause “Vintage of Vehicle” in the Negotiated Contract. This clause is affecting the livelihood of majority of the vehicle owners”, he added.
The CEC also informed the Defence Minister that the Cooperative Marketing Societies (CMS) of Ladakh have been providing items to the Army through Negotiated Contracts for last many decades and this has enabled the farming communities to improve their socio-economic conditions. He sought preferential treatment to Cooperative Marketing Societies in the award of contracts for supply of vegetables, fruits etc to the Army.
He also sought Defence Minister’s personal intervention for preference to the Ladakhis for the job avenues with the Army and Border Roads Organization in the region so as to improve the socio-economic condition of the people.
Seeking increase in the air tonnage to the civil administration by the Army, Mr Spalbar said, “Leh has been very judiciously using the present allotted quota for airlifting of patients, poor pilgrims, stranded passengers and fresh vegetables for general masses during the winter months”, adding “the increase in the tonnage will be a huge relief to thousands of marginal souls who could not travel outside Ladakh during winter months for medical checkups and pilgrim due to skyrocketing airfares”.
He also urged DM for induction of Ladakhi women in Army for non combative roles.
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