Minister for Cooperatives, Chhering Dorjey, today convened a meeting at Leh to review relief and rehabilitation of the victims of recent natural disasters in Leh district.The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Prasanna Ramaswamy , SSP-Leh, ADC, SE-PWD and all the concern officers and engineers.Giving a power point presentation, DC Leh gave a detail report on the disaster caused by flood and damage to both public and private properties with estimated cost for temporary and permanent restoration works and free rations distributed till date by administration to the affected villages.
The Minister stressed on the need to strengthen disaster management. “There is need to anticipate such disasters in future and stay prepared to handle such crisis, “he added.He instructed PWD to keep a stocking of emergency materials like sand sacs, crate wire, pipes etc in their store in future. Considering the approaching winter season, Dorjey instructed DC to ensure adequate stocking of feed and fodder for nomadic areas in Changthang region.The Minister instructed DC to take immediate decisions in coordination with Hill Council on providing alternative shelter before the onset of winter to the families whose houses were fully damaged during flood. He said that on the assurance of Prime Minister a good relief package is expected soon for the district. He asked DC and other officers to provide him the up to date feedback with facts and figures and assured to personally speed up the cases at his level.Dorjey also stressed on the need to pace up the works under UIDSSMT, FMP and other pending works and also instructed the officers to sort out funding issues to complete the projects on time.SSP, Leh Sunil Gupta informed about a survey being carried by 12 member SDRF team to study 30 nallahs and make a list of houses at risk in case of flood and create red zones based on practical experience of 2010 and recent floods in Leh.
The Minister also asked DC to identify and put restriction on building houses where there is maximum risk of damage and casualty.Later, the Minister along with Councillor Upper Leh Gay Lobzang Nayantak and a team of Engineers visited Upper- Leh today to assess the problem and grievances of the people of the area.He also inspected the ongoing work progress in Leh market and stressed the concerned Engineers to speed up the work in the market and ensure to complete the works within the stipulated time frame. The Minister also directed the SE PWD to prepare DPR for underground multi parking at Leh pologround.