Ladakh: Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, convened a meeting at the UT Secretariat to assess the utilization of the SDP/State Capex and plan for the additional ₹400 crore allocated by the Ministry of Finance.
Director of Finance Dr. Safdar Ali presented detailed budget estimates for FY 2024-25. It was highlighted that the capital budget for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) has been restored to ₹344 crores each, with remaining funds reallocated to meet departmental needs.
Dr. Kotwal stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and efficient resource management. He urged officers to ensure that funds are spent meaningfully to foster Ladakh’s holistic growth. Timely execution and fiscal responsibility were emphasized, alongside the need for proactive collaboration to address potential challenges. He also directed departments to settle pending liabilities for completed projects promptly.
The meeting brought together key officials, including Administrative Secretaries Vikram Sigh Malik (Tourism & Culture), Micheal D’Souza (PWD), Yetindara Maralkar (FCS&CA), Bhupesh Chaudhary (Agriculture & Horticulture), Shashanka Ala (RDD), and Bhanu Prabha (Education). Deputy Commissioners Santosh Sukhadeve (Leh) and Shrikant Suse (Kargil) also attended, alongside departmental heads and other officials.
The session marked a collaborative step toward maximizing the impact of Ladakh’s allocated resources.
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