LEH/NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced Monday the creation of five new districts in Ladakh, raising their number to seven in a decision welcomed by local people as fulfilment of their long-pending demand.
The new districts are: Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang.
However, the Leh Apex Body, which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is fighting for their four major demands including granting of statehood and extension of sixth schedule of the Constitution, said they will continue their peaceful struggle.
In a post on X, Shah said the Union Home Ministry has decided to create the five new districts in pursuit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to build a developed and prosperous Ladakh.
“The new districts, namely Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang, will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorstep by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny,” he said.
Leh and Kargil were the only two districts in Ladakh, the largest union territory in terms of area but the second least populous. It has an expanse of 86,904 square kilometers bordering China and Pakistan, with a population of 2.74 lakh according to the 2011 census.
The home minister said the Modi government is committed to creating abundant opportunities for the people of Ladakh.
Ladakh was carved out of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and declared a UT after the state was divided into two UTs on August 5, 2019.
On that day five years ago, Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state, was also abrogated. Being a UT, Ladakh comes under the direct administrative control of the union home ministry.
Prime Minister Modi hailed the creation of the new districts as a step towards better governance and prosperity.
Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang will now receive more focused attention, bringing services and opportunities even closer to people, he said, congratulating them.
He said on X, “Creation of five new districts in Ladakh is a step towards better governance and prosperity.”
Former BJP MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal termed the centre’s announcement a ‘Janmashtami’ gift for the people of Ladakh.
“In 2018, the BJP granted Ladakh a separate division and also fulfilled the demand for UT next year besides enhancing the budget to Rs 6,000 crore. We welcome the decision which is in accordance with the aspirations of the people,” he said, highlighting his role for raising the issue with the government during his tenure between 2019 and 2024.

  Election, Kashmir 370

Agencies