The Authorities in the newly created Union Territory of Ladakh have introduced ‘Protected View Policy’ to stop construction to any hoteliers, guest houses and restaurants, which are coming in the view of mountains and other natural resources from a motorable road.
“It has come to the notice of the Department of Tourism and Culture through various representations from the public that unregulated constructions of high rise hotels, guest houses, and restaurants in district of Leh and Kargil is depriving the citizens of Lakdah and the tourists of common view of mountains, natural scenic beauty and historical monuments like the Leh Palace, Chiktan fort etc,” the order issued by Commissioner/Secretary Tourism and Culture, Ladakh, Rigzian Sampheal, read.
It said that in the interest of prevention of shared common public rights of access to view the national assets and mountains, the department of Tourism and Culture of Union territory of Ladakh is introducing the ‘Protected View Policy’ in Ladakh.
“The prescribed authorities, Assistant Director Tourism, Leh, Kargil, Zanskar will not issue permission for construction to any existing or new hoteliers, guest houses and restaurants, which are coming in the view of mountains and other natural resources and mountains from any motorable road,” it said.
“That is to say that if a citizen or a tourist is travelling on a particular road who otherwise can clearly view (from a distance of 50 Meters from the proposed construction) the mountain or cultural monuments and would be deprived of the view, such construction would not be permitted by the Prescribed Authorities in their respective jurisdictions,” the order added.
It said that the order would also be applicable to all the banks in Ladkah at the time of deciding loans to hoteliers and other tourism assets. “The concerned banks woykd take NOC of no Objection of ‘Protected View’ from the concerned Tourism Departments,” the order said.
“This order would immediately come into force in the UT,” it added.