JK News Today
Leh, April 03, 2026: Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Ashish Kundra, chaired a meeting to review the ongoing cleanliness drive in Leh town and to assess the preparedness of all stakeholder agencies in ensuring a clean, organized and welcoming environment ahead of upcoming important events and tourist arrivals.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Leh, Shri Romil Singh Donk, informed that the cleanliness mission in Leh town was launched nearly 15 days ago under the directions of the Chief Secretary and the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. He stated that the campaign has witnessed active participation from multiple agencies and institutions, reflecting a collective commitment towards maintaining cleanliness and civic responsibility in the town.
It was informed that Leh town has been divided into five operational zones for the effective implementation of the cleanliness drive. Various agencies including the Indian Air Force, Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO)/Project Himank, Merchant Association, All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALGHA), and All Ladakh Tour Operators Association (ALTOA) have been assigned responsibilities in different zones to ensure coordinated action on the ground.
The Deputy Commissioner gave a detailed presentation covering the zonal structure of the cleanliness mission, implementation timeline, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, school engagement initiatives and competition plans, shramdaan in government offices, cross-cutting daily responsibilities for all zones, day-wise execution plans, and other key operational aspects of the campaign.
During the review, the Chief Secretary placed special emphasis on the upcoming public display of the sacred Buddha Relics, an event expected to draw a large number of tourists, devotees and high-level dignitaries from within and outside the country.
Stressing the need for intensive and visible cleanliness efforts, Shri Kundra instructed the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to ensure thorough cleaning and maintenance of the road stretch from Leh Airport to Jivetsal so that visitors and dignitaries are welcomed into a clean and aesthetically presentable town.
The meeting also discussed the status of dustbin distribution, the role of the Municipal Committee in strengthening the cleanliness mission, and the engagement of ex-servicemen as manpower under Green Ladakh initiatives and other maintenance-related works.
The Chief Secretary instructed all concerned agencies to improve inter-departmental coordination and ensure effective deployment of manpower, logistics support and heavy machinery wherever required. He further directed that all pending assessments and support requirements be addressed on priority to avoid any gaps in implementation.
Shri Kundra urged all agencies and departments to work in close coordination and adopt a practical, collaborative and result-oriented approach in carrying out the mission. He emphasized that the cleanliness drive should not remain limited to a short-term campaign but should evolve into a sustained public movement with active community ownership and institutional support.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for key stakeholders to share their suggestions and field-level concerns. Representatives from the Merchant Association, ALGHA, Army, ITBP, Police and other participating agencies highlighted several issues related to waste management and cleanliness infrastructure and assured their full cooperation in taking the initiative forward in a collaborative spirit.
Among those present in the meeting were Director General of Police, Shri Mukesh Singh; Secretary, I&FC, Shri Rahul Sharma; Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C; Deputy Commissioner Leh, Shri Romil Singh Donk; Sub-Divisional Commissioner Leh, Shri Mukul Beniwal; representatives from ITBP and BRO; President, All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association Leh (ALGHA); President, Merchant Association; representatives of ALTOA; and other stakeholders associated with the cleanliness mission.
