STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, R.K Mathur presided over as the Chief Guest in the valedictory session of a day-long webinar on ‘Construction technologies for winters in Ladakh’ organised by CPWD, Delhi.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt. Governor spoke of the winter challenges in Ladakh due to extreme minus temperature, geographical height, very low humidity added by lack of infrastructure and heating facilities.
He also pointed out the need to consider the risk of natural calamities, nature of the soil, natural energy from the sun, utility factor etc. while constructing any building in Ladakh.
He asserted that with technological intervention in the construction sector and harnessing the huge potential of solar energy, Ladakh could become a winter tourist paradise. He added that facilities like winter-proof buildings and road connectivity will give a fillip to the economy of Ladakh.
He reiterated that the endeavour of UT Administration is to ease and improve the living standards of people of Ladakh and this webinar is a step towards achieving this goal.
LG Mathur thanked Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for keeping his commitment in helping UT of Ladakh to start a technological culture to ensure fast pace development of the region. He also thanked CPWD, Delhi for their instant support and cooperation in taking this technological initiative ahead. He said that CPWD is already demonstrating the possibility of construction work in Ladakh during winters by building the Raj Niwas office building these days in minus temperature.
He made a mention of the innovations used by BRO in continuing construction works in Ladakh during peak winter months.
He exhorted PWD, Ladakh to take up pilot projects with expert help and guidance from CPWD and other institutes to demonstrate the use of technology in engineering works to enable the extension of working season round the year. He hoped for the continued support of CPWD in making Ladakh a better place.
Advisor Umang Narula speaking on the occasion said that there has been an adverse effect of non-functioning of Ladakh during winter months on its GDP. He stressed on the need to take up projects on a pilot basis to demonstrate and disseminate the benefit of technology at the grass-root level.
CEC, LAHDC Kargil Feroz Ahmed Khan, Commissioner Secretary A K Sahu, Diwakar Agrawal of CPWD, Delhi, expert speakers and delegates from renowned national institutes, Senior Officers and Engineers of CPWD, Delhi and Ladakh and SE PWD Leh and senior engineers from Ladakh were present in the session through video conferencing.
