Early Times Report
LEH, Feb 27: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of key infrastructure projects being implemented under various Central Government schemes, including the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), and Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP). The Lieutenant Governor also reviewed the status of recruitment drives for non-gazetted posts through District Subordinate Services Recruitment Boards (DSSRBs) and the Ladakh Subordinate Services Staff Selection Board (LSSSSB), as well as gazetted posts being filled through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Secretary, PWD, Shri Michael D'Souza, briefed the Chair on the ongoing works under CRIF across Ladakh. He apprised that 14 new projects have been sanctioned by the Government of India at an estimated cost of around Rs 931 crores. Issues pertaining to land acquisition and their impact on timely project execution were also highlighted during the meeting.
Chief Engineer, PDD, Shri Tsewang Paljor, presented a detailed overview of the implementation of the RDSS scheme under six different packages at a total cost of Rs 1216.86 crores. The projects are targeted for completion by March 2028. He informed the meeting about challenges faced by the department, including power purchase liabilities amounting to Rs 396.81 crores payable by the UT of Ladakh to Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited. He also highlighted the requirement of adequate funds in the Financial Year 2026-27 for initiating the tendering process of the proposed 5 MW solar power project. The issue of manpower shortage for the operation and maintenance of existing and upcoming projects was also brought to the notice of the Chair.
Administrative Secretary, Planning and Finance, Dr L Franklin, briefed the Lieutenant Governor on nine completed and upcoming projects under PMDP, including the Srinagar-Leh 220 kV Transmission Line, provision of 50% subsidy support for setting up solar driers, Pashmina promotion programme, Nimoo-Padum-Darcha Road, Zoji La Tunnel, among others. An outlay of Rs 21,441 crores has been earmarked for UT Ladakh under PMDP for these initiatives.
Director, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Dr OP Chaurasia, also briefed the meeting about upcoming infrastructure development projects in Ladakh aimed at strengthening research and support systems in high-altitude conditions.
Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), Shri Michael D'Souza, informed that around 1385 non-gazetted posts were advertised in 2025 through both DSSRBs and LSSSSB, out of which more than 900 matriculation and 10+2 level posts have already been filled. He further informed that examinations for 473 graduation-level posts are scheduled to be conducted in March 2026. The meeting was also apprised of special recruitment drives planned for filling vacant teacher posts and other vacancies across various government departments in 2026. Progress regarding the filling up of gazetted posts in Ladakh through UPSC was also reviewed. |
