Thupstan & Dorje meet Defence Minister at Leh
The member parliament Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang and minister for Cooperatives J&K Chhering Dorje today welcomed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at Kushok Bakula Rimpochhe Airport Leh today who is on a two-day visit of Jammu And Kashmir State.
Later in a meeting, the MP Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang and minister for Cooperatives J&K Chhering Dorje took various issues of Marketing Cooperative Societies of Ladakh including transport cooperative societies, vegetable marketing societies aiming to benefit the farmers and transporters of Ladakh highlighting the historic relationship of Ladakhi people and Indian Army since independence with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command Lt Gen DS Hooda.
MP Thupstan Chhewang updating the Defence Minister about the extent of damages caused due to sudden breach of accumulated water from the Phuktal river on 7th May, 2015 in Zanskar and Leh district demanded to release funds through Border Road Organisation which is under the administrative control of Defence Ministry and requested him to issue necessary instructions to the DG, BRO to immediately divert funds for restoration and reconstruction of the Roads and Bridges adding that as an immediate measure Rope Trolleys be constructed wherever required on priority bases to provide access to the inhabitants in cut-off villages of Zanskar and Leh.
Highlighting the examplenary cordial relationship between the India Armed Forces and the civil population since independence and the support of Ladakhi people to the Armed Forces in situation of wars and peace, MP Thupstan said that the Armed Forces are the major pillars of Ladakh’s economy as Army is our largest consumers, job providers and the major factor in the socio-economic development of the area and raised the issues relating to procurement in Agro-products by Army, Hiring of Civil Transports, recruitment by Armed Forces and engagement of permanen, temporary and seasonal labours besides acquisition and encroachment of land by Armed Forces is also taken up in the meeting strongly.
Besides border issues many other issues were discussed in length like raising of Ladakhi Women battalion, opening of all weather roads, preference to the Ladakhi Local labours in Army and BRO in the meeting.
The representatives of All Ladakh Transport Association ( ALTA) took the issues related with Transport Cooperative Societies including Vintage of Vehicles rules vide IHQ of MOD (Army) letter No 76372/Policy /ADG MOV ( Budget) dated 30 Mar 2012 under which army is calculating the vintage of vehicle at the rate of 6 years for light vehicles and 10-12 years for the Buses and Trucks, while it is longer as per the RTO norms and demanded for permanent waver of the said vintage as the Buses, Trucks and Taxis of Ladakh are on roads for only 120 days adding that due to dry atmosphere and absence of humidity in Ladakh the life of vehicles automatically increased.
The vegetable cooperative societies of Ladakh also highlighted their demands and issues pertained with supply of vegetables and fruits to army and demanded to procure maximum produces of Ladakhi farmers saying that vegetables and fruits of Ladakh are fresh and organic as compare to ROC supply.
Giving very patient hearing to the demands, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar assured to look into all the issues of Ladakh and assured to address all the issues and demands.
The Deputy Commissioner, Leh Saugat Biswas, SSP, Leh Dr. Sunil Gupta, Opposition leader in the Leh Council Councilor Dorjey Mutup,Councilor Upper Leh, Gyan Lobzang Nyantak, Councilor Sakti Gyal Wangail were also present in the meeting.
