LG Saxena formally inaugurates 5 new districts in Ladakh, asks officials to ensure public outreach

The Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday formally inaugurated five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh and directed the newly appointed deputy commissioners and senior police officers to address public concerns and maintain law and order.

The Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday formally inaugurated five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh and directed the newly appointed deputy commissioners and senior police officers to address public concerns and maintain law and order. Saxena on Tuesday approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) for the five newly created districts in Ladakh, a day after their formation. The five new districts inaugurated are Changthang, Nubra, Zanskar, Sham and Drass, officials said. The inauguration comes two days after approval was granted for the issuance of the notification for the creation of the new districts, marking a major step towards decentralised governance and administrative reforms in the region. Congratulating the people of Ladakh, Saxena said that the move fulfils a long-pending demand of local representatives and is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of governance at the doorstep. He described the decision as a new beginning aimed at bringing the administration closer to people living in far-flung and remote areas. Highlighting Ladakh's vast geographical spread and difficult terrain, the lieutenant governor said many residents have to travel long distances to access basic services and the creation of new districts would improve accessibility, speed up service delivery and strengthen administrative outreach. Saxena directed the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to adopt a people-centric approach, undertake regular village visits, organise outreach programmes and ensure prompt redressal of grievances. He also stressed the need to maintain law and order and preserve the peaceful atmosphere of Ladakh. The lieutenant governor further underlined the importance of addressing water scarcity through better utilisation and storage of glacial meltwater to support agriculture and livelihoods. Expressing confidence in the new administrative units, he said the districts would accelerate development, strengthen governance and fulfil the aspirations of the people across Ladakh.