Ladakh LG decentralizes land use approval powers to boost development

Leh, August 2: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has decentralized the land-use regulatory framework in Ladakh to speed up developmental works and promote citizen-centric governance. Under the new guidelines, powers to approve land-use changes outside municipal committee areas have been delegated to senior administrative officials.

The Divisional Commissioner can now approve land-use plan changes for plots measuring between two and four kanals, while the Chief Secretary is authorized to grant approvals for land measuring above four kanals and up to two acres.

Approvals for land-use changes on areas exceeding two acres will continue to rest with the Lieutenant Governor, who was previously the sole authority for all such matters.The move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of reducing regulatory hurdles to promote ease of living and ease of doing business across the Union Territory.

The decision addresses long-standing delays faced by developmental proposals and building permission applications due to the absence of notified Master Plans and Zonal Development Plans in Ladakh. The new interim framework allows rural residents to construct homes, open commercial establishments, and start small-scale industries without facing procedural delays.

Lieutenant Governor Saxena stated that the measure aims to make governance simpler, transparent, and people-centric until formal planning instruments are officially notified. The Revenue Department has been directed to issue detailed operational guidelines to enforce the new system.