India curshes Ladakh’s remaining autonomy, siphons all power
Leh Apex Body says region was more powerful under IIOJK than Delhi control
Leh: Co-chairman of the Leh Apex Body Chering Dorjay on Tuesday said Ladakh today enjoys less autonomy than it did as part of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, stating that India has dismantled local authority and concentrated power in New Delhi.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a media interview in Leh, Dorjay said the Hill Development Councils had greater functional independence under occupied Jammu and Kashmir than Ladakh has today as a Union Territory.
“Autonomy under Jammu and Kashmir was far better than what we are experiencing now. We have lost control over our own decisions, and there is increasing interference from Delhi,” he said.
His remarks came amid growing anger over the withdrawal of powers from local administration. Under the new administrative order, the Lieutenant Governor can no longer approve projects worth up to Rs100 crore. Administrative Secretaries have also lost their authority to clear proposals up to Rs 20 crore, while departmental heads, including Chief Engineers, Deputy Commissioners and Superintending Engineers, have been stripped of powers to sanction projects worth between Rs 3 crore and Rs 10 crore.
All approvals will now be routed through the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs.
The order was issued by Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta following instructions from the Indian Home Ministry, triggering sharp reactions from political and social leadership in Ladakh.
“Instead of strengthening local institutions, New Delhi has taken away every remaining power we had,” Dorjay said.
He warned that routine governance and development decisions would now be made in Delhi, severely delaying work in a region with geographical and climatic constraints.
Ladakh became a Union Territory in August 2019 following the abrogation of occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. “We were not consulted before our financial autonomy was taken away. Decisions were imposed without discussion,” he said.
