LEH: Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, handed over renewed lease deeds to 79 residents of Housing Colony at a ceremony held at the District Panchayat Resource Centre, Agling, marking a significant step toward resolving long-pending land tenure issues in the region.
The renewal of lease deeds is expected to benefit residents by ensuring legal ownership and security of tenure, enabling access to banking services such as loans, facilitating smoother property transactions, and allowing land to be sold at fair market value. In the first phase, 79 lease deeds have been renewed, benefiting several families.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Vinai Kumar Saxena termed the occasion historic, stating that the renewed lease deeds would provide legal security, peace of mind, and financial empowerment. He emphasized that homes represent the aspirations and hard work of families, and that providing legally valid documents is crucial for their stability and future.
Highlighting that the initiative aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “Housing for All” and improved ease of living, the Lieutenant Governor said the move is a significant step toward ensuring secure housing rights in a geographically challenging region like Ladakh.
He informed that special camps were organised under his direction to expedite the resolution of pending cases. The process has been carried out under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Act 1960, ensuring full legal validity and enabling beneficiaries to access financial services and undertake property transactions.
Reiterating the Administration’s commitment to transparent and people-centric governance, Vinai Kumar Saxena assured that similar camps would be organised to clear all pending cases of expired lease deeds and reduce backlog, ensuring that no genuine beneficiary is left behind.
On behalf of the residents, Nambardar, Housing Colony, Stazin Otsal expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor and the UT Administration for resolving the long-standing issue. He said that several residents, living in the colony since 1975, were unable to avail banking loans or sell land due to expired lease deeds.
Nambardar Ibex Colony, Sonam Rigzin informed that around 1,000 households reside in Ibex Colony, many of whom have served in the Indian Army in different wars. He urged the Lieutenant Governor to also address their land-related issues to bring relief to the residents.
