Ladakh L-G hands over renewed lease deeds, boosts housing security

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday handed over renewed lease deeds to 79 residents of a housing colony at a function held at the District Panchayat Resource Centre, Agling.

The renewal, pending for several years, will significantly benefit residents by ensuring legal ownership and security of tenure. It will also enable access to banking services such as loans, facilitate smooth property transactions, and allow land to be sold at fair market value. In the first phase, 79 lease deeds have been renewed, benefiting numerous families.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the Lieutenant Governor termed the occasion historic, stating that the renewed lease deeds would ensure legal security, peace of mind, and financial empowerment. He emphasised that homes represent the aspirations and hard work of families, and providing valid legal documents is essential for their stability and future.

Highlighting that the initiative aligns with the vision of “Housing for All” and improved ease of living, he said the move is a significant step toward achieving this goal, particularly in a geographically challenging region like Ladakh, by ensuring secure housing rights and access to essential services.

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 Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Act, 1960, ensuring full legal validity and enabling beneficiaries to access banking services and carry out property transactions.

Reiterating the administration’s commitment to transparent and people-centric governance, he assured that similar camps would be organised to clear all pending cases of expired lease deeds, reduce backlog, and provide relief to residents, ensuring no genuine beneficiary is left behind.

On behalf of the residents, Nambardar of the Housing Colony, Stazin Otsal, expressed gratitude to the L-G and the UT administration for resolving the long-pending issue.

Nambardar of Ibex Colony, Sonam Rigzin, said around 1,000 households reside there, many of whom have served in the Army. He requested the Lieutenant Governor to address their land-related issues as well, which would bring much-needed relief to residents.