Jammu, August 26 : In a significant development, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has announced the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh, increasing the total number of districts from two to seven. The new districts include Sham, Nubra, and Changthang in Leh district, and Zanskar and Drass in Kargil district. This decision, aimed at enhancing governance and bringing services closer to the people, is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a prosperous Ladakh. The announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who highlighted that the creation of these districts will bolster governance across the region.
To address various logistical and administrative concerns, the Ministry has instructed the Ladakh administration to establish a Committee. This Panel will evaluate the boundaries, headquarters, structure, and creation of new posts for the districts, with a report expected within three months. Following the submission of this report, the Ladakh administration will send a final proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further action.
While the announcement was largely welcomed across Ladakh, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) expressed mixed reactions. Both groups, which have been advocating for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh, hailed the creation of the new districts but reaffirmed their commitment to continue their ongoing agitation, including a month-long padyatra from Ladakh to New Delhi starting on September 1.
Currently, Leh and Kargil districts each have an Autonomous Hill Development Council with 30 Councillors, but it remains unclear whether the newly created districts will also receive similar councils or if a single Regional Council will be established to govern all seven districts. Observers are keen to see how the government addresses these concerns, given the sparse population in the new districts compared to Leh and Kargil.
Political leaders and activists have shared varied reactions to the announcement. BJP UT President Phunchok Stanzin expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and Home Minister, emphasizing the party’s focus on Ladakh’s development. Feroz Khan, former Chairman of the Kargil Hill Development Council, welcomed the move but pointed out the disparity in district allocation between Leh and Kargil, advocating for district status for Suru as well. Activist Sajjad Kargili echoed this sentiment, lamenting the exclusion of Suru Sanku and Shakar Chiktan regions.
Meanwhile, prominent figures such as Ladakh Buddhist Association President Chering Dorje Lakrook and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk acknowledged the decision’s benefits for remote areas but reiterated that their primary demands remain unaddressed. Wangchuk stressed the need for the government to fulfill its promise of extending the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
The Congress party also welcomed the creation of new districts but emphasized that this alone would not safeguard Ladakh’s environment, culture, and identity. Congress leaders, including Ladakh President Nawang Rigzin Jora and general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, raised concerns about whether the new districts would receive democratically elected Autonomous Hill Development Councils and have greater control over budget allocations, a matter currently dominated by the Lieutenant Governor and the bureaucracy.
As the situation evolves, the creation of the new districts marks a step forward in Ladakh’s administrative landscape, but the region’s political and social dynamics remain complex and in need of further attention.
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