Area-wise Jammu and Kashmir’s largest, Leh is the only district of the state where women officers are on top positions and heading the administrative apparatus.
The deputy commissioner of the district is 2013-batch IAS officer Avny Lavasa and the police superintendent is 2012 batch IPS Sargun Shukla.
Both the officers are posted in Leh since September 2017.
This strategically important district shares boundaries with Pakistan administered Kashmir in the west and China in the North. Given the huge presence of army, people usually approach the armed forces for their developmental works but since these officers took command the district saw a host of administrative reforms and initiatives.
The reforms resolved several pending issues including traffic congestion in main city, waste management, farm and agriculture, shrinking lakes and other ecological problems.
“In a major step to streamline traffic, the district administration revived the defunct public transport system after which the number of small vehicles on roads came down drastically,” an officer informed.
“Saturday has been declared as no-vehicle day for all government offices. All officers and officials have been directed to avoid use of personal or official vehicle and instead use public transport, cycle or prefer walk to reach their offices,” the officer told Greater Kashmir.
“There are strict guidelines and everyone has been asked to adhere to it and post selfies of using public transport or cycle in official groups,” he added. “This step is part of overall reforms to address environmental issues.”
The district has a distinct topographical condition. It is situated roughly between 32 to 36 degree North Latitude and 75 to 80 degree East Longitude with altitude ranging from 2300 meters to 5000 meters above sea level.
Each area of Leh has its own special produce to promote and teams have been constituted to focus on high quality local products.
“Stress is laid on organic farming,” the officer said.
To maintain ecological balance, the administration has declared no-construction zone along the banks of Pangong Tso Lake and relocated camps and resorts constructed within 150 meters area of the lake.
The administration is in talks with army and other security agencies requesting them to lift restrictions on the movement of tourists at certain places so that other virgin spots of the vast district could be explored by tourists.