Leh

The government is moving towards a decision to constitute a Union Territory-level body in Ladakh, elected directly through constituencies, that would be vested with legislative and financial powers,  Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, said on Thursday. 

A meeting of the Ladakh sub-committee and the Ministry of Home Affairs was held yesterday. It was attended by the leadership of the Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.

“A meeting of the sub-committee was held yesterday at the Ministry of Home Affairs, attended by the leadership of the Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance from Ladakh. Building upon the progress made in the previous meeting, discussions focused on establishing constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, specifically, incorporating a special provision under Article 371 to protect the interests of the local population,” Kundra said. 

“We are moving towards a decision to constitute a Union Territory-level body, elected directly through constituencies, that would be vested with legislative and financial powers. The next meeting is scheduled for October, and we hope that an advanced draft of the Constitutional Amendment Bill will be ready by then," he added. 

The Chief Secretary’s remarks signify the Centre offering a constitutional provision to provide additional protections to Ladakh.

The Government has stated earlier that it stands committed to the aspirations of people of Ladakh by providing adequate constitutional safeguards.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital last month. The Centre has been taking steps for speedy development in Ladakh.  

A delegation from the Union Territory of Ladakh, led by former Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Tashi Gyalson, met Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh in February this year to discuss key development and administrative issues concerning the region.

During the meeting, the delegation drew attention to the progress and preparatory work related to the Agham Hydroelectric Project, a proposed hydropower initiative on the Shyok River in Ladakh. The delegation outlined the background of the project and the technical groundwork already undertaken, including earlier studies and preparatory exercises, and underscored its importance for strengthening local power infrastructure and supporting the region’s development needs. 

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They conveyed that the project had reached an important stage and emphasised the need for coordinated follow-up to enable its advancement.