Leh, March 16: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday chaired a comprehensive review meeting with Administrative Secretaries to assess the progress of ongoing projects and government schemes across Ladakh, while calling for focused and result-oriented efforts to accelerate development in the Union Territory.
During the meeting, Saxena reviewed the status of various departmental initiatives and discussed key challenges faced by departments in implementing development works. He urged officials to work with renewed commitment to unlock Ladakh’s vast potential across sectors and ensure tangible benefits for the people.
Calling Administrative Secretaries the “backbone of the administrative machinery,” the Lieutenant Governor said their efficiency and dedication would play a decisive role in shaping Ladakh’s development trajectory. He stressed that the region has the potential to emerge as the best Union Territory in the country if departments work in a coordinated and proactive manner.
Saxena issued several directions aimed at strengthening civic infrastructure, environmental protection, tourism promotion and livelihood opportunities. He emphasised maintaining cleanliness and proper urban planning in Leh, directing authorities to ensure a neat environment with zero tolerance for littering. He also called for uniform signages across the town, roadside plantations to reduce dust, and clear road markings near schools, hospitals and other sensitive areas.
The Lieutenant Governor further instructed departments to ensure regular cleaning of footpaths, proper placement of dustbins and clearly demarcated parking and no-parking zones to improve civic management.
Highlighting the need to preserve Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem, Saxena stressed the importance of adopting a zero-plastic policy and directed departments to plan additional Sewage Treatment Plants with a long-term vision of at least 15 years. He also suggested exploring Decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants for remote areas and emphasised developing both Leh and Kargil towns as zero-discharge towns.
Addressing water scarcity, Saxena called for identifying at least 50 locations for the creation of water bodies to store snowmelt and glacial water, which could help support irrigation and mitigate water shortages faced by farmers.
The Lieutenant Governor also laid emphasis on skill development and youth empowerment, urging departments to provide training programmes that transform young people from job seekers into job creators.
To promote clean energy, Saxena directed officials to explore Ladakh’s wind energy potential, while also strengthening sports infrastructure by developing facilities for activities such as archery, skiing and hot-air ballooning at suitable locations away from the main town.
Highlighting tourism as a key economic driver, Saxena said Ladakh should be developed into the number one tourist destination in the country. He proposed the creation of tent cities at scenic locations on the lines of those in Kutch, procurement of 20-seater luxury buses for tourist transport and introduction of a fully online booking system.
He also asked the Tourism Department to prepare a comprehensive plan to promote winter tourism, ensuring that tourism activities continue throughout the year.
The Lieutenant Governor further highlighted the potential for cultivating high-value flowers such as tulips, gladiolus and lilies for export, which could create employment opportunities for locals. He also stressed promoting Ladakhi Pashmina as a defining identity of the region and ensuring fair market value for local producers.
Earlier, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra presented an overview of ongoing projects and schemes in the Union Territory and briefed the Lieutenant Governor on key administrative challenges. The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ladakh administration.
