Hon?ble Chairman/CEC LAHDC, Leh, Adv Tashi Gyalson, convened a meeting today in the Council Secretariat to review the progress and future plans for Project Tsangda in Leh District. The meeting focused on waste management strategies and infrastructure development, with District Panchayat Officer (DPO), Junaid Amin Bhat, presenting a detailed overview.

Key initiatives under Project Tsangda include installing bailing machines, shredders, composting machines, and incinerators. The project also emphasizes a decentralized waste management approach, with plans to establish temporary waste storage sheds at the village level in each block of Leh.

DPO Junaid highlighted the need to clean blackspot areas near Devachan and Agling Abi Canal, proposing measures like installing CCTV cameras, imposing penalties for illegal dumping, and introducing sponsored public bins.

The meeting also addressed concerns related to equipment needs at SRMCs, vehicle requirements, and identifying suitable dumping sites. BDO Leh, Samina Khatoon, stressed the importance of additional dustbins to improve waste collection and segregation efforts.

To tackle waste management challenges effectively, CEC Gyalson proposed developing a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving BRO, the Airforce, the Army, and civil stakeholders, initially implementing the model in Hunder, Nubra, with plans to replicate it across Leh. He emphasized that this model could set a national example with the Army's involvement in waste management.

Additionally, the CEC suggested forming a similar MoU with Self Help Groups (SHGs) to manage smaller SRMCs, empowering local communities in waste management efforts. Addressing concerns raised by the Tibetan Community regarding waste management, CEC Gyalson assured the provision of a waste vehicle to facilitate waste transportation to various dumping centers.

The meeting was attended by Hon?ble Deputy Chairman LAHDC, Leh, Tsering Angchuk; Hon?ble Executive Councillor, RDD, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee; Hon?ble Executive Councillor, Minority, Ghulam Mehdi; Deputy Commissioner/CEO LAHDC, Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve; ADDC, Leh, Sonam Norbu; Chief Planning Officer, Leh, Tsewang Gyalson; DPO, Leh, Junaid Amin Bhat; BDO, Leh, Samina Khatoon; representatives from Project Tsangda, Army Hunder, Self Help Group Leh, and other concerned officials.