| LG Gupta calls for boosting winter tourism, safeguarding Monasteries in Leh | | |  Early Times Report
Leh, Aug 8: Ladakh receives substantial numbers of tourists in summer months, but it is equally important to promote winter tourism to boost the footfall of tourists, particularly foreigners, as the majority of people from Ladakh are engaged in the tourism industry. Promote homestays to boost rural tourism, protect ancient monasteries possessing rich artefacts by installing CCTVs and digitise centuries-old scriptures. Also, ensure the script used in light and sound shows is vetted by history professors to provide factual information to tourists.
These were some of the directives issued by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, during the introductory-cum-review meeting of the Department of Tourism and Culture, UT Ladakh, at LG Secretariat. Among the other departments reviewed by Lt Governor during the day-long meeting included the Housing and Urban Development, Public Works Department (PWD), Mechanical Engineering, General Administration Department (GAD) and Inspector General of Registration.
In the morning session, Administrative Secretary, Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, highlighted key projects, functions and schemes of the Housing and Urban Development Department, including the upcoming GIS-based Master Plan for Leh/Kargil, proposal to upgrade the Municipal Committee to Municipal Council in Ladakh. He informed that various central government schemes implemented by the department, such as PM-SVANidhi, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Swachh Bharat Mission SBM) 2.0, AMRUT 2.0, PMAY Urban 2.0 and benefits are being extended to beneficiaries under these schemes.
Highlighting the decline in footfall of tourists over the last two years, the Administrative Secretary highlighted various initiatives being taken by the Department to boost infrastructure, along with policy and incentives schemes such as Ladakh Homestay Policy 2023, STP Incentive Scheme 2024, among others. He also highlighted efforts being made to preserve museums and construct or upgrade new libraries at the sub-divisional level.
Post-lunch, Administrative Secretary, Michael D’Souza, IAS, informed the Lt Governor about various infrastructure projects carried Ladakh receives substantial numbers of tourists in summer months.
It is equally important to promote winter tourism to boost the footfall of tourists
Promote homestays to boost rural tourism, protect ancient monasteries possessing rich artefacts
Digitise centuries-old scriptures. Also, ensure the script used in light and sound shows is vetted by history professors to provide factual information.
Framing of Recruitment Rules, notification of exams, conducting recruitment exams through Ladakh Subordinate Services Staff Selection Board (LSSSSB), service-related matters of GAD were highlighted in the PPT presentation given by the Administrative Secretary. He apprised the Lt Governor of total staff strength, recruitments that took place after the formation of the union territory through various boards, recruitment drives to be conducted later this year and submission of requisitions to UPSC for gazetted posts, etc. The functions and challenges of the Inspector General of Registration Department were also discussed in the meeting.
In his concluding remarks, the Lt Governor emphasised early work on cleaning legacy waste in Kargil along with ensuring proper waste collection and segregation for environmental protection. He directed that sewage treatment plant (STP) projects constructed under AMRUT 2.0 can be done in phases to deal with financial crunches, but there must be no comprise with their quality. He also asked the Executive Officer of Municipal Committee Leh to promote the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Urban 2.0 scheme so that more people come forward to avail the benefit, keeping in mind the number of new municipal wards added in Leh town, which might see a surge in demand for housing loans.
The Lt Governor stated that utmost importance must be given to the construction, upgradation, and maintenance of strategic roads for the movement of troops throughout the year. He emphasised the importance of maximising government employee registration on the Karamyogi Bharat portal to enhance civil service capacity building through the iGOT Karmayogi online platform for training. He emphasised filling up gazetted and non-gazetted posts for the efficient functioning of the UT Administration. |
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