In a major step towards decentralising governance and easing development-related approvals, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has authorised the Chief Secretary and Divisional Commissioner to approve change in land use for development works in areas outside Municipal Committees in Ladakh.

Under the revised framework, the Divisional Commissioner has been empowered to approve change in land use for plots measuring above two kanals and up to four kanals, while the Chief Secretary will approve applications for land above four kanals and up to two acres. The Lieutenant Governor will continue to approve applications involving land exceeding two acres.

Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor was the sole authority for approving all such applications. The decentralisation is expected to significantly speed up the processing of land-use proposals and facilitate development works across the Union Territory.

On July 8, LG Saxena had already exempted residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use development on land measuring up to two kanals from the requirement of prior approval. The latest decision further expands the pro-people land-use reforms by decentralising decision-making for larger land parcels.

Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of promoting "Ease of Living" and "Ease of Doing Business", the initiative addresses regulatory challenges arising from the absence of notified Master Plans and Zonal Development Plans in Ladakh. Until now, building permissions and development proposals were often delayed due to centralised approval mechanisms and uncertainty regarding land-use regulations.

Recognising the inconvenience faced by citizens, the Lieutenant Governor has approved a transparent interim framework that facilitates legitimate development while maintaining orderly regulation until the statutory planning framework is notified.

The new system is expected to provide substantial relief to residents of rural areas by enabling them to construct homes, establish commercial establishments, undertake small-scale industrial activities and develop mixed-use properties without unnecessary procedural delays. Along with the earlier reforms for municipal areas, the initiative aims to ensure greater regulatory clarity, reduced compliance burden, faster approvals and enhanced investment across Ladakh.

"Our objective is to make governance simpler, more transparent and people-centric. Citizens should not suffer merely because statutory planning instruments are yet to be notified. Authorising the Chief Secretary and Divisional Commissioner to approve development proposals will ensure that people living in rural areas can build homes, establish businesses and undertake legitimate developmental activities without unnecessary procedural hurdles. This interim framework strikes the right balance between facilitating development and safeguarding environmental and planning concerns until the Master Plans and Zonal Development Plans are notified," LG Vinai Kumar Saxena said.

The Revenue Department has been directed to issue detailed operational guidelines for regulating land use and construction activities outside municipal limits. The interim framework will remain in force until the Master Plans, Zonal Development Plans and related statutory regulations are notified, after which all future development will be governed by the notified planning framework.