*SECI to install 7500 MW Solar Power Projects
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 1: After getting the status of Union Territory, Ladakh region once part of Jammu and Kashmir State, has witnessed a massive boom in the development sector, with a whopping six-times hike in its budget and huge flow of funds from New Delhi.
While sanctioning of Rs 1921 crores for Kargil-Zanskar National Highway, Rs 200 cr for expansion and development of Kargil Airport are the big gifts from the Union Government to the people of Ladakh, the new Mission Organic Development Initiative (MODI) of the New Delhi with the cost of Rs 500 crores, is all set to transform entire Ladakh into Organic Region and change the life style of the people in Himalayan region, as its people celebrate first year of Ladakh UT with great fan fare.
An official from Ladakh UT told the Excelsior that the prime objective of `MODI’ is to make Ladakh fully organic by 2025. In first phase of the initiative, 34 villages of Leh and 32 from Kargil district have been identified and registered for the organic certificate drive, followed by others in the next phase.
Not only this, after getting new Medical College and University in Leh, an Engineering College at Kargil; Ladakh got tele-connectivity with 54 new Mobile towers sanctioned under USOF Scheme, under Mission towards Digital India, the official added.
“It is a matter of great pride for the people of this Himalayan region that Ladakh is all set to become as Solar Energy Capital of India as well India’s first Carbon Neutral state. The Government is all set to generate 7500 MW Solar Power through various projects to be executed by SECI, an agency of Union Government,” he added.
Elaborating further, the official said there was a six- times increase in the total budget for Ladakh from Rs 1172 crores in 2018-19 to Rs 5958 crores in the year 2020-21 after the region was declared a Union Territory. Last year’s budget after UT formation from Oct 2019-March 2020 was to the tune of Rs 5754 crores. The annual budget increased from average Rs 70 crores per year to Rs 232 crores for each LAHDCs,” he maintained.
“An approval of Kargil-Zanskar National Highway (NH-301) project worth Rs 1921.03 crores and 13 major bridges and 450 kms of roads in Ladakh, is certain to change the life of people from the most remote Zanskar-Padam Sub Division of Kargil. For the sppedy execution of works, 188 engineers were outsourced and placed at the disposal of executing agencies of LAHDCs. Moreover, vacant post of the BDOs were filled up at Blocks to enable the Councils to utilize budgets allocated and completion of works on time,” he added.
For the first time, the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa in Ladakh was approved with the enhanced budget of Rs 30.80 crores (capital) and Rs 16.45 cr (recurring) for the promotion of regional medicine and giving recognition to the ancient medicinal practice in this Himalayan region.
While, the first engineering college has been announced to be etsbalished at Kargil and Medical College in Leh, the Food & Craft Institutte, Leh is being upgraded to Institute of Hotel Management under a proposed Budget of Rs 33 crores for the Ladakhi youth. A Central University will start functioning in Leh shortly as announced by the Prime Minister recently, while University of Ladakh has already started functioning at Leh, he added.
The official further disclosed that an area under cultivation has been increased by about 20 % in Ladakh while for the first time, after 20 years of decline, number of Pashmina goats in border area of Changthang has increased by 6%. A scheme to set up Poly-carbonate Green Houses has been launched to make winter vegetables available in Ladakh region where the temperature go down to even minus 40 degrees Celsius during winters.
In Sports sector, Rs 35.05 crores has been allocated to Leh and Kagril districts for the development of multi-purpose indoor stadiums and Sports hostels. For the development of Ice hockey rinks, Rs 25 lakhs have been sanctioned to each Sub Division in Ladakh. Besides this, Astro turf, Synthetic Tracks & Gymnasium Hall are coming up at NDS Sports Complex Leh under Khelo India Scheme, the official added.
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