Council’s terms of reference include advising Administration on long-term vision and sustainable development strategies, with special focus on environment protection & climate change.
LEH: In a move aimed at strengthening policy planning and ensuring a balanced, sustainable and inclusive development roadmap for the Union Territory, the Administration of Ladakh has constituted the Lieutenant Governor’s Advisory Council for UT Ladakh.
The council will serve as a high-level advisory body to provide strategic guidance to the Administration on long-term vision, sustainable development, environmental protection, economic growth and preservation of Ladakh’s unique cultural and ecological identity.
The Advisory Council will be headed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh as Chairman and will include key representatives from elected institutions, administration, security, and experts from diverse fields.
The members of the council include the Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Leh, Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Kargil, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Ladakh, Chief Secretary UT Ladakh, Director General of Police UT Ladakh, and Divisional Commissioner Ladakh. The Administrative Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department, UT Ladakh has been appointed as the Convenor of the council.
The council will also have participation from eminent experts and professionals, including C Phunsog IAS (Retd), Tsewang Namgyal IFS (Retd), Rigzian Sampheal IAS (Retd), and Dr. Sudarshan Ramaraju, former UN official, who will contribute expertise in areas including governance, environment, climate change and sustainable development.
Representatives from industry, handicrafts, MSME and social sectors have also been included. Sunil Sethi, Chairman, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), will advise on industries and textiles, while Jaiparkash Tomar, former Member of Khadi and Village Industries Commission, will contribute on Khadi and MSME-related matters. Sheikh Nazir Mehdi, President of Jamiat Ul Ulama Isna Ashariya Kargil, has also been nominated as a member.
According to the order, the council’s Terms of Reference include advising the Administration on long-term vision and sustainable development strategies, with special focus on environment protection and climate change. The council will recommend measures for youth employment, skill development, entrepreneurship and innovation, besides suggesting strategies for economic growth while safeguarding local interests and livelihoods.
A major focus area of the council will be preservation of Ladakh’s ecology, culture, heritage and indigenous traditions, along with providing guidance on tourism, infrastructure, connectivity and regional development.
The council will also work towards promoting balanced, inclusive and climate-resilient development across Ladakh and recommend integrated district-level development frameworks, particularly significant in view of the UT’s evolving administrative structure and creation of new districts.
The constitution of the Advisory Council comes at a crucial juncture when Ladakh is witnessing rapid transformation in infrastructure, tourism, economic activities and governance reforms, while facing challenges related to fragile ecology, climate change and preservation of its cultural heritage. The tenure of the council will initially be for one year, unless extended by the Administration.
The formation of the high-level body is expected to provide a platform for expert consultation and collaborative policy-making, bringing together elected representatives, administrators, domain experts and community voices to shape Ladakh’s future development trajectory.
