Leh, Sept 3 (JKNS): In a significant step towards decentralising governance in the Union Territory of Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Ladakh has approved the constitution of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) for all seven districts of the UT.
According to a notification issued by the Revenue Department, as per news agency JKNS, councils have been constituted for Leh, Kargil, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass under the provisions of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997.
The development follows the creation of five new districts—Sham, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Changthang—in April this year and the Centre’s decision on July 13 to extend the LAHDC system to all seven districts.
The Lieutenant Governor described the decision as a historic milestone for Ladakh, saying the expansion of the council system would strengthen grassroots governance and provide greater autonomy to local institutions.
The LG said the initiative, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, would help decentralise administration, strengthen local governance and address the long-standing aspirations of people at the grassroots level.
Under the notification, the newly constituted councils will exercise powers and perform functions assigned to them under the LAHDC Act, 1997, as amended from time to time.
The administration has clarified that elections to the seven councils will be conducted in due course after issuance of the requisite notification under Section 8 of the LAHDC Act.
The expansion of the LAHDC framework is expected to strengthen local representation and facilitate more focused development planning across the newly created districts.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that the move would empower the people of Ladakh to play a greater role in shaping the region’s development and contribute towards building a stronger and more inclusive Union Territory. (JKNS)