India, July 14 -- The Ladakh administration on Monday announced that each of the Union Territory's seven districts will have its own Autonomous Hill Development Council (AHDC), expanding the existing system of elected local self-governance beyond Leh and Kargil.

Besides Leh and Kargil, the newly created districts of Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass will now also get their own hill councils.

The announcement is being seen as a major development in the Centre's efforts to provide constitutional safeguards to the strategically important Himalayan region.

The proposed AHDC body would have legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers aimed at strengthening local decision-making while safeguarding Ladakh's interests....