Kargil, May 03: In a significant move aimed at fostering inclusive growth and long-term sustainability, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, has approved a comprehensive budget of Rs 255.26 crore for the financial year 2025–26. The announcement came during the General Council Meeting held at the Conference Hall in Baroo, chaired by Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon.
The meeting opened with a solemn tribute to the late Haji Mohd Hassan Khan, former Member of Parliament from Ladakh and the innocent victims of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The tribute set a tone of reflection and resolve as the council turned its focus toward shaping Kargil’s future.
In his keynote address, CEC Akhoon reviewed the performance of the previous fiscal year, expressing satisfaction over the pace and quality of developmental works undertaken across departments. He particularly commended the role of Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Shrikant Suse, who was recently conferred with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for his outstanding work in expenditure management. The accolade, Akhoon noted, reflects the broader administrative commitment to transparency and efficiency.
The session saw the inauguration of several key infrastructure projects, including critical road upgrades in Drass—enhancing connectivity in one of the country’s most remote areas. Other notable inaugurations included a Stock Assistant Training Institute aimed at supporting the local livestock economy, a much-needed centre for anti-drug addiction to combat rising substance abuse, and newly constructed residential and hostel facilities to improve access to education and shelter.
Discussions during the meeting were wide-ranging and covered pressing developmental concerns such as–healthcare enhancement, including proposals for upgraded facilities and increased staffing in remote blocks, education reforms, with a focus on timely teacher appointments and plans for winter hostels to support students from snow-bound regions, tourism promotion, leveraging Kargil’s unique cultural and natural heritage and agricultural support, including the expansion of lift irrigation schemes to ensure water security for farmers.
A key highlight of the session was the CEC’s strong emphasis on environmental conservation. Dr. Akhoon urged citizens and departments alike to adopt eco-friendly practices, particularly stressing the urgent need to reduce plastic consumption in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The approved budget, spanning both capital and revenue components, is structured to provide a strong impetus to Kargil’s development while anchoring it in sustainability and social welfare. The council’s vision seeks to balance infrastructure growth with ecological preservation and economic progress with community well-being. With this budget, LAHDC Kargil reaffirms its commitment to a future where governance is inclusive, development is equitable, and progress does not come at the cost of nature or tradition.
