Town Planning is the controlling of existing growth and planning development of new places in an inclusive and sustainable manner. It is a dynamic process where land use is designed and planned in a rural and urban environment. As far as Ladakh is concerned, it is a landlocked region, which is known for its mesmerizing mountainous tourism and culture. It is dependent on military, agriculture and tourism economy. Population has also increased rapidly. It has around 60 percent of total area in the state. But there has never been Town Planning of this region since 1947. If we compare our state with other parts of Indian states regarding Town Planning, then it has one of the worst governing mechanism of planning. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) is considered as the nodal agency of policy making, plans and schemes, but it never realized that in a mammoth place like Ladakh, there must be town planning organization. It is not just Ladakh, where this kind of problem prevails. This neglect is prevalent in all the twenty two districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir’s unresolved political conflict also led Ladakh to be part of political victimization. It is evident that we have more red tape and officialdom than transparency and good governance. These may be the reasons of state government failure notably in case of Ladakh.
The state has two Town Planning organizations, one in Jammu and the next one in Kashmir. Whereas the largest province in terms of size, Ladakh, does not have this provision yet. We have two municipal corporations, seventy four municipal committees and different forms of development authorities. But the tragedy is that in all these organizations town planners are few and even town planners’ seats are filled up by non-professionals candidates. Then how can we expect real solution to the problem efficiently which is implemented and accomplished by them in our state. There is a need to regularize the recruitment policy of town planners as per planning norms of India. So that the urban, transport, landscape, environmental and regional planners could get their respective rights.
Town Planning has tremendous scope in Ladakh, but both the hill councils – Kargil and Leh – have shown disinterest towards establishment of Town Planning in the respective regions. The level of urbanization in Kargil is 10 percent and has still rural tendency, whereas Leh has 27 percent of urbanization level as per the Census of India, 2011. The level of urbanization is predominantly increasing in Leh mainly because of its booming tourism. There is need to adopt a holistic approach in order to increase the level of urbanization in terms of industry, education, banking, tourism, health, recreation, urban mobility, employment opportunities and communication etc., in the twin districts of Ladakh. So that we can have economic and cultural developmental linkages with other peripheral regions. In both the rural and urban areas of Ladakh, there has been lack of toilet facilities, drinking water, electricity, sanitation, roads and telecommunications; all of this need to be improved. Moreover, impact of climate changes like receding glaciers, cloudburst, ground water reduction and environmental degradation has led to a severe challenge to the existence of traditional and cultural livelihoods of the people of Ladakh.
There have come several schemes such as Housing for All, Swatch Baharat Abiyan and AMRUT etc., for the development of rural and urban areas. These schemes have not been productive and successful. The reason behind these failures is the absence of Town Planning department in Ladakh. Moreover, the environmental, tourism and human issues are also increasing day after day. These issues can be addressed only, when there will be a regulatory mechanism of institutions. Therefore, there must be a separate Town Planning department for the region of Ladakh. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil and Leh need to take action pertaining the Town Planning department in Ladakh. Similarly, the state government is also required to show keen interest in establishing this kind of department. Without Town Planning, no region can develop, but it is sure that it can become a mess.
Writer hails from Kargil. He has done M.A in Geography from Jamia Millia Islamia and Master in Regional Planning from School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.
lankoree@gmail.com