Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 12 : Newly elected Councillors of Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), accompanied by the new Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), Tashi Gyalson and Member of Parliament Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, today called on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and held a luncheon meeting with him.
In the meeting lasting one-and-half hour, Dr Jitendra Singh congratulated the newly elected Councillors and conveyed to them the best wishes on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He referred to Prime Minister Modi’s speech last evening after the declaration of election results in Bihar and other States, and quoted the Prime Minister as saying that from Ladakh down south upto Karnataka, people have reposed their faith in the Government’s agenda of development and “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”.
While addressing the delegation, Dr Jitendra Singh said, these elections assume special significance since this was the first electoral exercise after Ladakh became Union Territory and in spite of the negative propaganda by the opposition parties, people of Ladakh have once again reposed unflinching faith in Prime Minister Modi. He said, Modi gave the highest priority to Ladakh and other hitherto neglected regions including North East and Island territories.
The Minister said said, history will recall the fact that the demand for Union Territory status for Ladakh was for the first time put before the first Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru, but it was only Prime Minister Narendra Modi who gave it serious consideration and granted Union Territory status to Ladakh.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the Union Ministry of Science and Technology is planning to set up a regional centre of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) in Ladakh. He said that the Modi government had granted Ladakh a University, a Medical College and an Engineering College.
Speaking about the connectivity issue of the region, Dr Jitendra Singh said that with opening of Atal Tunnel (also known as Rohtang Tunnel) and the under construction Zoji La Tunnel the all weather connectivity with this peripheral region will give a big economic and security boost to the region. And this became a reality only under the able leadership and unflinching will of the Prime minister Narendra Modi.
While discussing about the various projects, Dr Jitendra Singh said that a mega project on solar technology plant is being established in the region which will make it capable of providing enough electricity and energy for the people and various projects in the area.
The Minister also mentioned about the preparation of the policy and action plan for “Carbon Neutral” Ladakh as announced by Modi. He said that the Union Territory government is earnestly working on a comprehensive plan which would be ready to be placed before the higher authorities.
The Union Minister also referred to the 50 crore special development package for Ladakh and said this was for the first time that any Central government had been so liberal in funding the various projects for the region. He said, this will be the first of its kind roadmap devoted exclusively to the Ladakh region.
CEC LAHDC Advocate Tashi and MP Jamyang thanked Dr Jitendra Singh for his continuous support and for his day to day coordination in taking up various Ladakh related matters with different Ministries at the Centre.
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