Leh: In a move aimed at accelerating development activities and simplifying governance, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has decentralised powers for approving land-use proposals for development projects outside municipal committee areas.
Under the new framework, the Divisional Commissioner has been authorised to approve land-use changes for plots above two kanals and up to four kanals, while the Chief Secretary will handle proposals involving land parcels above four kanals and up to two acres. Land-use changes involving more than two acres will continue to require approval from the Lieutenant Governor.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor was the sole authority for all such approvals. The decentralisation is aimed at ensuring faster disposal of applications and reducing delays in developmental works.
The decision follows the LG’s earlier order of July 8, under which residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use development on land up to two kanals was exempted from prior approval requirements.
Officials said the initiative is part of Ladakh’s pro-people deregulation drive to promote Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business while addressing challenges caused by the absence of notified Master Plans and Zonal Development Plans in the Union Territory.
The new framework is expected to benefit residents, especially in rural areas, by enabling faster approvals for construction of houses, commercial establishments, small-scale industries and mixed-use properties.
The Revenue Department has been directed to issue detailed guidelines for regulating land use and construction activities outside municipal limits. The interim framework will remain effective until statutory planning documents, including Master Plans and Zonal Development Plans, are notified.
LG Saxena said the objective is to make governance simpler, transparent and citizen-centric, while maintaining a balance between development needs, environmental concerns and planned growth.
