Srinagar, Jul 29 : The administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has constituted a high-level committee to examine the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act, 1997 and make recommendations to strengthen the Hill Councils.
The committee, headed by senior IAS officer Sanjeev Khirwar, has been mandated to review the LAHDC Act, 1997 and submit a report to strengthen the Hill Councils — the highest elected bodies in the Union Territory, following its separation from Jammu & Kashmir.
According to an order, a copy of which is in possession of news agency— the committee is also tasked with reviewing Nautor land and other land-related issues in the Union Territory of Ladakh, strictly keeping in mind the interests of the people of Ladakh.
Nautor land refers to barren or wasteland owned by the government that may be allotted to individuals for cultivation or productive use, subject to official approval. In Ladakh, local residents who have been cultivating or tending to such land over the years are seeking its regularisation in their names.
The four-member committee also includes IAS officer Michael M. D’Souza, Tariq Mehmood Qureshi, Special Secretary in the Law & Justice Department, and Rigzin Spalon, Additional Secretary in the General Administration Department.
The committee was constituted based on directions from the Union Home Secretary, who advised the UT administration to form it during his visit to Ladakh from June 30 to July 1.
In a letter written to the Chief Secretary of Ladakh by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on July 17, the committee was also directed to examine the LAHDC Act and submit recommendations for strengthening the Councils.
As per the order, the committee will be assisted in its functions by the Deputy Commissioners, Chief Executive Officers of LAHDC Leh and Kargil, and Assistant Commissioners Revenue of Leh and Kargil.
The General Administration Department shall be servicing the committee, the order adds
