Leh get three, Kargil two
Panel to decide boundaries, other issues in 3 months
New distts will now receive focused attention: PM
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 26: In a major decision, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs today announced creation of five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh including three in Leh and two in Kargil taking total number of districts to seven and directed the UT administration to set up a Committee to evaluate various related aspects including boundaries of new districts, their headquarters, structure and creation of new posts etc. The Panel will submit its report in next three months.
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Newly created districts include Sham, Nubra and Changthang, all in Leh district and Zanskar and Drass in Kargil district. Presently, the Ladakh UT created on August 5, 2019 after being separated from Jammu and Kashmir, has two districts only including Leh and Kargil. Total number of districts has now gone up to seven.
While there was jubilation in Ladakh with most of the political parties and organizations welcoming the Home Ministry decision but the Leh Apex Body (LAB) which is spearheading the agitation on four-point agenda including Statehood and Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, along with Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), hailed the decision but declared that they will go ahead with their agitational programme including month-long padyatra from Ladakh to New Delhi starting September 1.
Existing two districts of Ladakh—Leh and Kargil—have Autonomous Hill Development Councils with 30 Councilors each-26 elected and four Nominated and it will be seen whether five newly created districts get Councils, the possibility of which is remote going by very less population, or there will be one Regional Council covering all seven districts. However, things would be clear after the districts are formally created.
Excelsior had last month exclusively reported that the Central Government has decided to give new districts to the UT of Ladakh besides conceding their other demands but saying no to Sixth Schedule status and Statehood being sought by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to X this morning to announce five new districts for the UT of Ladakh, a long pending demand of the people.
“In pursuit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to build a developed and prosperous Ladakh, the Union Home Ministry has decided to create five new districts for Ladakh. The new districts will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorsteps by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny,” Shah said, adding the Narendra Modi Government is committed to create abundant opportunities for the people of Ladakh.
Soon after announcement of new districts, the Home Minister asked the UT administration of Ladakh to form a Committee to evaluate various aspects related to the new districts including creation of their headquarters, boundaries, structure, new posts and other issues related to formation of the districts.
The Committee is required to submit its report within three months, the officials said, adding after receiving the report the Ladakh administration will send a final proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further action.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the people of Ladakh for creation of five new districts. The new districts will now receive focused attention, bringing services and opportunities even close to the people.
Sharing a post of Home Minister Amit Shah on X, Modi wrote: “Creation of five new districts in Ladakh is a step towards better governance and prosperity. Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang will now receive more focused attention. Congratulations to the people there”.
Leh district got the Autonomous Hill Development Council in 1995 after a prolonged agitation for the UT status. Kargil district was given the Council in 2003.
However, five newly created districts have very less population as compared to Leh and Kargil districts and the political observers say they will keenly watch whether the Government gives Hill Councils to them or create a full-fledged Regional Council for the UT of Ladakh and involve some mechanism for all seven districts.
Zanskar and Drass areas which have been accorded district status in Kargil have only three and two Councillors respectively in the existing Kargil Hill Development Council. Similarly, three new districts approved in Leh including Nubra, Sham and Changthang have five, eight and five Councillors respectively.
Meanwhile, BJP UT president Phunchok Stanzin has expressed thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior BJP leaders for granting five more districts to the UT of Ladakh.
“The decisions shows that BJP is the only party which focuses on Ladakh. All this has been done for the welfare of Ladakh. Border villages are also witnessing lot of development now. The locals will get relief as the district headquarters will be nearer to them” Stanzin said.
Former Chairman-cum-CEC Kargil Hill Development Council Feroz Khan while welcoming creation of new districts regretted that Leh has been given three and Kargil only two districts. He said Suru in Kargil also deserves to be a district as it has nine Councillors and is one of the most populated area.
Noted activist Sajjad Kargili too welcomed the Government of India’s decision but regretted exclusion of Suru Sanku and Shakar Chiktan regions from the district status.
“Not granting district status to these regions is an injustice towards people of these areas who have been advocating for recognition for a long time,” he added.
Ladakh Buddhist Association President Chering Dorje Lakrook, who is also co-chairman of the Lex Apex Body (LAB), said the Government’s decision fulfilled the justified demand of the people.
“This decision will benefit the people especially living in far-flung areas by getting all facilities at their doorstep,” he said.
He said there will be no impact of the decision on the ongoing struggle in support of their four demands. “The creation of new districts is not the demand of the LAB and KDA, so we stand by our decision to undertake foot march from Leh to Delhi beginning September 1.”
“I am thankful to Home Minister and Modi Government on behalf of the people of Ladakh for announcing five new districts to Ladakh which was a long pending demand of the people, especially Zanskar region,” said Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist and a member of the Leh Apex Body.
He said the decision is in accordance with the promise made by the BJP to the people of these areas but “we have to see whether these are just administrative districts or democratic units wherein they have Autonomous District Councils like Leh and Kargil”.
Wangchuk reminded the BJP of its promise of extending Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the region and said the Government must address the primary demand of the people for safeguards otherwise the struggle of the locals would continue.
The Congress’ Ladakh president Nawang Rigzin Jora also welcomed the Centre’s decision but said just creating administrative districts would not save environment, culture and identity of the people of Ladakh for which they are on the streets for the last over four years.
“Creating five more districts further strengthens our demand for statehood because the UT of Puducherry with only four districts has a Legislative Assembly. Ladakh is strategically located and the demands of its people are justified,” Jora, whose party is also part of the LAB, said, adding the LAB will continue its struggle in support of its four-point agenda.
He also demanded democratically elected Autonomous Hill Councils for the newly created districts and a separate budget for the new districts.
Meanwhile, the Congress has asked whether there will be elected Autonomous Hill Development Councils for each of the new districts and will they have a much more meaningful and relevant say in how budgets are spent.
Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “The elected Autonomous Hill Development Council for Leh was established in 1995. The elected Autonomous Hill Development Council for Kargil was set up in 2003.”
“Now five new districts have been formed in Ladakh in addition to Leh and Kargil. Will there be elected Autonomous Hill Development Councils for each of the five new districts as well?” he asked.
Presently, the two existing elected Autonomous Hill Development Councils have control over less than 10% of the total expenditure allocated to Ladakh and the balance 90% is being under the control of the Lieutenant Governor and the bureaucracy, he said.
Will the elected AHDCs have a much more meaningful and relevant say in how budgets are spent? Ramesh asked.
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