Finance Minister lays foundation of mini planetarium in Ladakh

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday laid the foundation stone of a mini planetarium at the Hanle Dark Sky reserve in Ladakh.

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The Minister is on a four-day visit to the cold desert region where she interacted with locals and BJP workers besides holding discussions with Ladakh Lt Governor Brig BD Mishra (retd).

On Monday, Sitharaman also visited Rongdo Valley and interacted with members of the local nomadic tribal community, including their womenfolk. She asked about the issues pertaining the community and assured she would take up their concerns with the government at highest level.

During her visit to Rongdo Valley, she handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh for the construction of tents for the tribals, under the CSR initiative of the SBI Foundation.

She later went to Nyoma village and interacted with the residents of the far-off area.

Sitharaman also visited the Leh palace and explored the historic corridors and architectural legacy of the Namgyal dynasty. She was accompanied by Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal along with ASI officials. This 17th century palace showcases a unique fusion of Tibetan, Indian and Buddhist architectural styles, reflecting the region’s cultural diversity.