LG Sets Up UT-Level Panel For Operationalisation Of Five New Districts In Ladakh

Leh/Jammu : The Ladakh administration on Monday constituted a committee to examine and recommend measures for the effective operationalisation of the five newly created districts in the Union Territory.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had, in April, approved and notified the creation of five new districts, Changthang, Nubra, Sham, Zanskar and Drass, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the people of the region.
An official spokesman said following the historic decision, the lieutenant governor approved the constitution of a UT-level committee to examine and recommend measures related to the efficient functioning of the newly created districts.
“The committee will recommend measures for the establishment and operationalisation of key district-level offices in the new districts and examine any consequential administrative, financial and logistical issues arising out of the creation of the five districts,” the spokesman said.
The decision follows the approval accorded by the LG on April 27 for notification of the new districts, marking a significant step towards strengthening grassroots governance and improving administrative efficiency in remote areas of Ladakh.
According to the administration, the committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of examining and recommending measures for the operationalisation of the districts, including reorganisation and rationalisation of the jurisdiction of subdivisions, tehsils, niabats, girdawar and qanungo circles, and patwar halqas in conformity with the notified territorial limits.
The administration said the move would ensure a smooth administrative transition and help establish a robust governance framework in the newly constituted districts.
“The creation of the new districts is aimed at decentralising governance and ensuring that administrative services reach the doorsteps of the people, particularly those living in remote and far-flung areas,” the spokesman said.
He added that the operationalisation process must be carried out in a structured, transparent and time-bound manner to ensure the benefits of the new administrative framework reach the people effectively.
“The UT administration is committed to building a responsive, efficient and people-centric governance system in Ladakh,” the lieutenant governor said.
The LG has also directed the committee to recommend the distribution and redeployment of staff, records, assets, infrastructure and other resources between the existing and newly created districts.
“In addition, the committee will assess the requirement for creation, redeployment and upgradation of posts for the effective functioning of the new districts, including revenue, development and other essential administrative cadres,” the spokesman said.
The committee will be headed by the divisional commissioner/secretary of the Revenue Department, as chairperson. The secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department will serve as member-convenor, while the secretary of the General Administration Department and the Deputy Commissioners of Leh and Kargil will serve as other members.
The administration said the development would significantly improve administrative outreach, strengthen service delivery mechanisms, facilitate faster grievance redressal and ensure more focused developmental planning in remote and underserved areas of Ladakh.