Leh/Jammu, Aug 15 (PTI) Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday joined the people of the Union territory in celebrating the 80th Independence Day by hoisting the national flag at the polo ground here and taking the salute of the marching contingents.
Addressing the gathering, Saxena paid tribute to the freedom fighters whose courage and sacrifice secured the country’s Independence and laid the foundation for its democratic journey, an official statement said.
He also saluted the armed forces, paramilitary personnel, Ladakh Scouts, police and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) staff performing their duties amid the challenging terrain and harsh climate of Ladakh.
The L-G highlighted the creation of Ladakh as a separate Union territory in 2019 as a significant milestone in its development journey, and said the administration, with the support of the Centre, is focusing on infrastructure, governance, healthcare, education, tourism, renewable energy, agriculture, water security, connectivity and social welfare issues in the UT.
He also highlighted the creation of five new districts – Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass – along with 17 new tehsils and 16 new engineering divisions to bring administration and public services closer to the people, the statement said.
He underlined the ongoing process of establishing hill councils in all the seven districts to strengthen grassroots democracy and ensure development as per local needs.
Stating that Ladakh has witnessed significant growth in the tourism sector, Saxena said, “More than 3.30 lakh tourists visited the Union territory till the end of July this year, which is nearly 98 per cent of the total tourist footfalls recorded during the whole of 2025.” The road network has expanded from 1,799 km before the formation of the UT to more than 4,200 km, while the number of bridges has risen from 19 to 72, Saxena said, adding that projects such as the Zojila tunnel and the Leh bypass are strengthening all-weather connectivity in Ladakh.
Emphasising sustainable development, the L-G highlighted initiatives including Project Him Sarovar, Himalayan rock check dams, the Indus River Green Corridor, expansion of tap-water coverage, renewable energy projects and commissioning of geothermal wells at Puga.
Saxena also highlighted measures to strengthen the Pashmina sector, including the establishment of the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board, incentives for more than 1,200 pashmina producers and a Rs 8 crore revolving fund to facilitate timely payments.
Saxena expressed gratitude to the farmers, Changpa herders, teachers, doctors, nurses, health workers, engineers and citizens for their contribution to Ladakh’s progress.
He called upon the youth to acquire knowledge, embrace innovation and make the most of the opportunities emerging in the “rapidly changing Union territory”.
Saxena stressed that development and environmental protection must go hand in hand to ensure that future generations inherit a Ladakh that is prosperous, peaceful, vibrant and ecologically sustainable.
He also expressed confidence that with the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and continued support of the government of India, Ladakh would continue to contribute significantly to the national goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The marching contingents included personnel from the CRPF, RAF, ITBP, CISF, Ladakh Police, Ladakh Police Commando and ex-servicemen, along with NCC cadets from the 1st and 2nd Ladakh Battalions and students from schools across Leh, Kargil, Drass, Nubra, Sham, Changthang and Zanskar.
A demonstration by Ladakh Police’s K-9 Squad and a performance by the Ladakh Police Women’s Pipe Band were among the highlights of the event, which also included cultural performances by the Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and educational institutions from across the UT.
The lieutenant governor’s appreciation certificates were also conferred on officials and organisations for exemplary work in their respective fields.
Late Col Sonam Wangchuk was conferred the dPal rNgam Duston Lifetime Achievement Award, while Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the Drupka lineage, was honoured with the dPal rNgam Duston Award 2026. PTI AB AB ARI ARI ARI
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