Ladakh Administration Signs MoU with SPA Delhi for UT's First-Ever Master Plan

To curtail unplanned development, the administration of Ladakh has set in motion the process for preparing the first ever 'Master Plan' for the UT, with Lt Governor VK Saxena on Friday saying that a MoU has been signed between the UT and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi for the purpose. He added that the first draft is likely to be submitted by SPA to the Ladakh administration within three months. Saxena shared that a 'Master Plan' was the need of the hour as it would not only curb unauthorised and unplanned development, but also ensure that the fragile ecosystem of Ladakh is secured through proper planning. According to officials, as of now, there are no guidelines for construction activities in Ladakh, as a result of which constructions are carried out in a haphazard manner. "This has severely affected the ecology in Ladakh and put a burden on the existing infrastructure," an official in the L-G's office explained. As per the MoU, SPA will prepare a comprehensive plan for all districts of Ladakh. SPA will carry out an assessment of demographic, economic, environmental and transport parameters at the city and the regional scales as well as signage, pedestrianization and heritage and tourism guidelines. The Master Plan will incorporate modern tools and techniques, such as AI and GIS to monitor climate change, associated vulnerabilities and their impacts.