Leh: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday announced the creation of Sankoo as Ladakh’s eighth district and five new tehsils across the Union Territory as part of the ongoing administrative reorganisation aimed at improving access to public services.
The new Sankoo district has been carved out of the existing Kargil district and will comprise the tehsils of GM Pore, TSG and Taisuru. The announcement fulfils a long-standing demand of the region’s residents, according to the administration.
Saxena made the announcement during his visit to Sankoo, where he later attended a public gathering to mark the creation of the new district. A large number of people participated in the celebrations.
The Lieutenant Governor said the decision was intended to bring administration closer to residents, improve access to government services and strengthen public participation in governance. He also said the administrative requirements arising from the district’s creation would be addressed at the earliest and necessary appointments made to facilitate its functioning.
The announcement comes less than six months after the administration announced five new districts — Changthang, Drass, Nubra, Sham and Zanskar — as part of efforts to decentralise governance across Ladakh.
In a separate decision, Saxena announced five new tehsils: Aryan Valley in Sham district, Sodh in Kargil, Phey in Zanskar, Thasgam in Drass and Hemya in Changthang.
Aryan Valley will comprise Dha-Beema, Hanu, Garkone and Darchiks.
Sodh tehsil will include Yourbaltak, Akchamal, Apatee, Tumail, Barchey, Silmoo, Lalung and Chulichan.
Phey tehsil in Zanskar will comprise Rangdum, Phey, Emala-Shagan, Hamiling, Abran, Akshow, Atting, Rantaksha and Tungri.
Thasgam tehsil in Drass will include Thasgam, Jasgund, Kharboo and Shimsha, while Hemya tehsil in Changthang will comprise Tukla, Liktse, Tarchit, Kungyam, Teri and Hemya.
The administration said the new tehsils would improve access to administrative institutions and essential services for residents of remote and far-flung areas.
On July 12, Saxena had announced the creation of 17 new tehsils. With the addition of the five announced on Friday, Ladakh’s total number of tehsils has risen to 37.
The Lieutenant Governor said the broader reorganisation was aimed at improving administrative efficiency, facilitating the functioning of newly created districts and making public services more accessible to residents across the Union Territory.