Congress Questions Governance in New Ladakh Districts

The Indian government announced the formation of five new districts in Ladakh: Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang. Congress has raised questions about whether these new districts will have elected Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs) and if these councils will have significant control over the budget.

With the government announcing the creation of five new districts in Ladakh, the Congress on Monday raised crucial questions about the governance structure, asking if elected Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs) will be established for these new regions.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah underscored that creating Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to develop Ladakh. According to Shah, the new districts will enhance local governance and bring benefits directly to residents.

However, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the existing AHDCs in Leh and Kargil control less than 10% of Ladakh's total budget. He questioned if the new councils, if created, would have a more meaningful say in budgetary allocations.