Ladakh Chief Secretary Announces ₹3,350 Crore Infrastructure Projects
Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra detailed major infrastructure developments and a new government framework for constitutional safeguards in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra announced the implementation of development projects totaling nearly ₹3,350 crore to modernize the Union Territory. Key achievements include the completion of the ₹640 crore Leh Airport Terminal and the 9 MW Hanu Hydropower Project. To increase legal accessibility for residents, the government established a High Court Bench in Leh, eliminating the requirement for citizens to travel to Jammu or Srinagar for legal proceedings.
On the governance front, the Ministry of Home Affairs shared a draft framework on October 16 proposing a two-stage approach to establish a directly elected Union Territory-level body. This plan involves a constitutional amendment and regulations under Article 240 to protect local land, resources, and cultural identity.
While the government has already recognized Bhoti and Purgi as official languages and increased Scheduled Tribe reservation to 84 per cent, Kundra stated that specific details regarding the new body's composition, election methods, and its relationship with existing councils remain open for deliberation.
