Sustainable Growth: To consult stakeholders before implementation
Leh, Aug 01: With an aim to surpass the benchmarks set in this regard by other states and UTs of the country, Chief Secretary Dr Pawan Kotwal has called for all-out efforts for improving Ladakh’s business ecosystem and fast-track development, through a comprehensive mechanism to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, attract investment, and foster sustainable economic growth in the Union Territory.
Kotwal said this while chairing the discussions on eight key reform areas identified by a government task force to enhance ease of doing business in the Union Territory, even as he asserted that the UT administration would implement these measures in a phased manner after further stakeholder consultations.
The high-level meeting sought to assess progress on deregulation and compliance reduction measures.
“These eight reforms would be implemented by the UT administration in a phased manner after further stakeholder consultations,” said the Chief Secretary.
At the outset, PT Rudra Goud, Secretary of Industries & Commerce and Animal Husbandry, presented actionable recommendations, including adopting a flexible zoning framework for mixed-use development, amending building regulations to ease industrial development, increasing the role of empanelled third parties in approvals and inspections, streamlining factory and trade license processes, and expediting utility connections through a fully online system.
Dr Kotwal emphasized the importance of these measures, noting that Special Cabinet Secretary K.K. Pathak had recently suggested Ladakh’s systems should aim to surpass the benchmarks set by other states.
The Chief Secretary further stressed minimizing compliance barriers in areas such as housing, power, connectivity, and registration of hotels and lodges. He highlighted that people should not face unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and insisted on the simplification of building bylaws.
Administrative Secretary Bhupesh Chaudhary recommended that all departments integrate the suggested reforms into the official online portal by August 7 and provide updated inputs to ensure timely implementation.
Dr Kotwal concluded the meeting by directing all departments to submit detailed progress reports and reform updates to the Administrative Secretary ahead of the deadline.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Labour & Employment Sanjeev Khirwar; Administrative Secretaries Vikram Malik (PDD), Shashanka Ala (Rural Development), Michael D’Souza (PWD), Rahul Sharma (PHE), Bhupesh Chaudhary (Agriculture & Horticulture), and other key officials including Directors, Chief Engineers, Technical Officers from NIC, and the PMU team from the Tourism Department.
Pertinent to mention here that in the previous meeting chaired in this regard, the CS had reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to support local industries in the union territory.
He outlined ongoing initiatives aimed at industrial promotion, emphasizing sustainable development and the need to adopt small, efficient units suited to Ladakh’s unique climatic and geographic conditions.
The CS also had highlighted that the Ladakhi people get only a few months to work in industries due to the harsh climatic conditions, which limit industrial activities to a short working season. As a result, they are compelled to work intensively during this limited period.
