Drass, June 8: Chief Secretary of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, chaired a review meeting with district officers in Drass to assess the progress of developmental projects and public service delivery in the newly formed district.
The meeting, held at the Tourist Dak Bungalow, was attended by Deputy Commissioner Drass Imteeaz Kacho, SDM Vishal Atri, senior engineers and district officers. Officials presented updates on infrastructure, public utilities and administrative functioning across the district.
Detailed discussions were held on the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, agriculture, horticulture, waste management, education and healthcare. Issues related to the upgradation of the Conference Hall at Dak Bungalow, creation of a separate R&B Division for Drass and clearance of departmental liabilities were also reviewed.
The Chief Secretary directed the Rural Development Department to strengthen waste collection and segregation at the village level and stressed the need for public awareness campaigns on cleanliness through religious institutions. He also instructed authorities to prevent illegal roadside constructions to avoid future traffic congestion.
During his visit, Kundra attended a horse polo exhibition match at the Drass Polo Ground and received a memorandum from the Horse Polo Association seeking support for the preservation and promotion of the traditional sport.
At Higher Secondary School Drass, he interacted with students and staff and appreciated a cultural programme showcasing the region’s linguistic and cultural diversity. He also released two books — Shina Qaida by Mohd Shafi Sagar and Punar by Shabbir Ahmed Misbahi.
Encouraging students to become job creators, Kundra urged the school administration to coordinate with Government Degree College Drass for regular career counselling sessions. He also felicitated top performers in the recent CBSE Class 12 examinations.
The Chief Secretary later reviewed healthcare facilities at Sub-District Hospital Drass and assured support for improving medical services. He concluded his visit with an inspection of the 220/66 kV POWERGRID station, where he reviewed ongoing transmission projects, inspected GIS facilities and participated in a plantation drive.
