Executive Councilor for Zanskar Affairs Tenzin Sonam today called on the Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju at New Delhi and apprised the Minister about the various problems faced by the people of Kargil District, especially during the winter season.While raising a number of issues, the EC urged upon the Minister to resume the IAF chopper service for evacuation of serious patients which was discontinued last year. Sonam explained that due to the non-availability of this vital service many precious lives are being lost in the remote mountainous region of Kargil particularly Zanskar sub-division which remains cut off even from its district headquarters for more than seven months of the year. The EC requested the Minister for taking immediate steps in this regard so that the people do not suffer anymore.The EC also took up the issue of the extension of Kargil Airport with the Union Minister. Various other issues pertaining to Zanskar Sub-division like sanctioning of additional 200 tonnages for the operation of MI-17 Helicopter from Leh to Padum and vice versa, an operation of IAF chopper service between Leh-Chumik and Leh Rangdum, the border dispute between Himachal Pradesh and J&K at Chumik Gyalsa Sarchu and other prominent matters came up for discussion. The EC urged upon the Union Minister of State for immediate steps in this regard besides settlement of the border disputes and creation of permanent police check post at Zanskar Sumdo and Chumik Gyalsa.
Other prominent issues taken up with the Union Minister included the speedy construction of Nimoo -Padum- Darcha road and construction of an airstrip at Padum to end up the total isolation of the area.The Minister gave a patient hearing to all the grievances and informed the EC that the Union Government is fully conscious of the difficulties being faced by the people of the far-flung and remotest snowbound areas of the country and a number of concrete measures are being taken to mitigate their sufferings.The Minister said that the project for expansion of Kargil Airport is already under the active consideration of the Government, adding work on the project shall be executed soon after the acquisition of land. The Minister also informed the EC that construction of an airstrip at Padum Zanskar is under consideration by the Government and survey for the same is underway.The Union Minister assured that all the genuine demands shall be looked in on the priority basis by the Union Government and necessary steps shall be taken in due course of time.