Last Updated on June 20, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, visited Shimsha in Drass sub-division and interacted with the farmers & producers engaged in the cultivation of Black Zeera (cumin). Chairman, LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan; Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Santosh Sukhdeve; Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kargil, Anayat Ali Chaudhary and Director, Commerce and Industries, Moses Kunzang, were present during the interaction session.
LG Mathur emphasised on the need for the formation of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for the promotion of black zeera. He advised that the Agriculture/Horticulture Department may consult with KREDA for the installation of solar-powered lift irrigation systems in the village and start the installation process before the plantation time of black zeera in October. He suggested that the Department may increase the production of black zeera through varietal improvement. LG Mathur advised Commerce and Industries Department to promote the product.
Director, Industries and Commerce, Moses Kunzang informed the efforts being made by the Department for the proper packing of black zeera and checking its nutritional value with the help of the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Sonepat.
A delegation from Shimsha led by Naib Sarpanch, Zulfikhar Ali, raised several issues related to the village, viz. the need for a pilot project for commercial cultivation of organic wild black zeera and its geographical indication (GI) tag; construction of circular and link road in Shimsha and Bimbat; installation of lift irrigation systems in the village for irrigation purposes; installation of mobile towers for telecommunication/internet connectivity in the village; renovation of Govt Primary & Middle schools; development of sports infrastructure, especially ice hockey rink, in the village; opening of trekking route from Shimsha to Minjee to promote tourism activities; construction of the Dandal-Shimsha Canal for irrigation of fields.
A delegation from Thasgam led by Nambardar, Ghulam Hussain, raised issues related to the development of the village, including the request for changing the alignment of the National Highway to conserve the agricultural land; sanctioning of a Govt Higher Secondary School in the village; construction of ice hockey rink and gondola to improve sports infrastructure; establishment of a branch of a leading bank in the village; recruitment of youth from Drass sub-division in Army and Govt. departments under special quota; the need for bus service from Kargil to Thasgam; upgradation of existing Medical Sub-Centre to Community Health Centre (CHC); installation of mobile towers for improved connectivity; construction of irrigation khul in the village, etc.
A delegation from Bhimbet led by Councillor, Syed Mohammad Shah, raised several issues related to the village, viz. establishment of the branches of J&K Bank or State Bank of India with ATM facilities at Bhimbet and Thasgam; establishment of a branch of Kendriya Vidyalaya or Jawaharlal Nehru Vidyalaya (JNV) at Bhimbet; posting of specialist doctors at Sub-Division Hospital at Drass, New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) at Bhimet and Kharboo; the need for disbursal of compensation to farmers whose crops were damaged due to scarcity of water for irrigation purposes; installation of mobile towers at Shimsha and Kaksar; sanctioning of funds for the construction of irrigation canal from Wattakul to Shimsha; installation of lift irrigation system at Bhimbet and other adjacent villages; setting up of a Medical Sub-centre at Throngbos, Dandalthang, Sumart and Kheeber; construction of a multi-purpose hall at Bhimbet, etc.
A delegation from Kharboo led by Haji Ghulam Mohammad raised several issues related to the village, including the need for the construction of a bund at Shupat and Shokore for protection against avalanches; installation of solar-lift irrigation systems for irrigation purposes; setting up of a Medical Aid Centre in the village; construction of circular and link roads in the village; upgradation of Govt High School to Higher Secondary School; the need for financial assistance to farmers who lost their agricultural produce; initiating a pilot project for the cultivation of black zeera in the village; construction of the Dandal-Kharboo Canal to irrigate uncultivated areas, etc.
Sarpanch, Kharboo, Haseena Banoo, requested for the construction of bund for protection of Tsupat and Sho-Kor against avalanches. Social worker Mohd Mehraj Mustaq requested for upgradation of Govt High School Thasgam to Higher Secondary School; construction of link road from Jusgond to base camp of Lasar La to boost tourism activities; establishment of a War Memorial at Kaksar village; conversion of the forest land in Thasgam to Ecological Land Park; posting of medical staff at CHC Kharboo; construction of a view point and recreational park at Manman top in Lamochan.
