NIUA & MC Leh officials, Chairman DRDO, PET teacher & author Asfandyar Khan call on Hon’ble Lt. Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd).

Leh, August 18, 2023: A delegation comprising members of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and Municipal Committee, Leh led by President, MC Leh, Dr Ishey Namgyal, called on the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at Raj Niwas.
Team Leader, NIUA, Shri Victor Shinde apprised the HLG about their plan to prepare the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Leh town. He informed that Leh is among the five cities in India for which the Climate Action Plan will be prepared for tackling climate change and increasing climate resilience. He highlighted the two areas of focus- mitigation and adaptation to climate change. He also informed about their meeting with different stakeholders from Ladakh to define thrust areas such as water scarcity and carbon emission from transport vehicles, etc.
HLG, the officials from NIUA and MC Leh discussed various issues faced by Ladakh, including water scarcity and groundwater management.
The HLG inquired about the potential intervention to mitigate water scarcity in Ladakh as ‘water is the biggest worry for Ladakh.’ He instructed Secretary to HLG, Shri Ravinder Kumar, IAS, to fix the meeting of officials from NIUA and MC Leh with the concerned Departmental Secretary for further deliberation on the thrust areas.
Advisor to HLG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Secretary to HLG, Ravinder Kumar, IAS; President, Municipal Committee, Leh, Dr Ishey Namgyal, Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Leh, Stanzin Rabgais, members of NIUA were present in the meeting.
Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dr Samir V Kamat called on HLG at Raj Niwas. Secretary to HLG, Ravinder Kumar, IAS, and Director, DIHAR, Dr OP Chaurasia were present in the meeting.
Dr Kamat apprised the HLG of the DRDO projects in Leh and discussed about the establishment of a DRDO laboratory in Leh. The HLG lauded the contribution of DRDO and DIHAR Centre in Leh.
Shri Javid Ahmad, a Physical Education Master posted at Government High School Sangrah, called on HLG at Raj Niwas. Secretary, Sports, Ladakh Shri Ravinder Kumar was present in the meeting.
Shri Ahmad informed the HLG about the study leave availed by him and requested an extension of his study leave. The HLG directed Secretary, Youth Services and Sport, Shri Ravinder Kumar to take the matter with GAD for the early redressal of the issue.
Kacho Asfandyar Khan, IAS (Retd), an author from Kargil, called on HLG at Raj Niwas.
Shri Asfandyar informed the HLG about his journey as an author after his retirement as a government official. He also informed that he has written around nine books to date. He presented two books written by him to the HLG. The HLG appreciated Shri Asfandyar’s work on the history, culture and traditions of Ladakh.