L-G Saxena celebrates UT Ladakh Foundation Day, highlights transformative development journey
Leh, August 5: Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, today attended the “dPal rNgam Duston 2026” celebrations at the historic Leh Palace, commemorating the seventh anniversary of Ladakh’s attainment of Union Territory status. Amid the cultural fervour, the LG congratulated the people of Ladakh saying this historic occasion marked the fulfilment of the long-standing aspirations of the people under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor described 5 August as a defining moment in Ladakh’s history, and said that “dPal rNgam Duston” has evolved into a celebration of Ladakh’s identity, culture, resilience and collective aspirations while symbolising unity among its people.
“The journey of Ladakh as a Union Territory has been one of transformation, resilience and collective progress. Our endeavour has been to build an inclusive, sustainable and future-ready Ladakh while preserving its unique cultural identity and fragile ecology. The remarkable achievements across governance, infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, education, environment and sports reflect the collective efforts of our people and the unwavering support of the Government of India under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. As we move towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, we remain committed to building a prosperous, peaceful and self-reliant Ladakh that offers equal opportunities to every citizen,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Highlighting the remarkable transformation witnessed over the past seven years, Shri Saxena said the UT Administration has focused on decentralised governance, sustainable development and improved public service delivery. On this occasion, the LG highlighted the development in various sectors/areas in Ladakh after becoming the union territory:
| Sector | 2019 (Pre-UT Status) | 2026 / Current Status |
| Administrative Districts | 2 | 7 |
| Tehsils | 15 | 32 |
| Road Network | 1,799 km | 4,063 km |
| Bridges | 19 | 72 |
| Zoji La Road Closure | 127 days/year | 16 days/year |
| Kargil-Zanskar Road Closure | 154 days/year | 11 days/year |
| Helipads | 7 | 41 |
| Grid-connected villages | 145 | 185 |
| Off-grid solar power capacity | 3972 kWh | 7735 kWh |
| Functional Household Tap Connections | 3.5% | 99% |
| Greenhouses | Nil | 4400 |
| Hospital Beds | 824 | 1554 |
| Mobile towers | 344 | 653 |
| Homestays | 158 | 2275 |
The Lieutenant Governor said Ladakh has emerged as one of the country’s leading examples of environmentally sustainable development. He highlighted the complete prohibition on chemical fertilisers to realise the vision of making Ladakh India’s largest certified organic region, the launch of Project Him Sarovar for water conservation, the Green Ladakh Campaign, restoration of degraded land and the promotion of renewable energy through solar and geothermal initiatives.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor announced conferring the “dPal rNgam Award 2026” upon His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa Rinpoche in recognition of his outstanding contributions to spiritual leadership, humanitarian service, and the preservation of Ladakh’s cultural heritage. The LG also announced conferring the “dPal rNgam Lifetime Achievement Award 2026” upon Late Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, Maha Vir Chakra, in recognition of his unparalleled courage, distinguished military service and enduring contribution to the nation.
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