Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, laid the foundation stone for a series of infrastructure and water conservation projects in Stok village, Leh, on August 7. The initiatives aim to strengthen water security, improve agricultural productivity, enhance village infrastructure, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and develop Stok as a major cultural and eco-tourism destination.

Located at the foothills of the iconic Stok Kangri, Stok is one of Ladakh’s treasured heritage villages and a living symbol of the region’s rich culture, traditions, history and natural beauty. During his visit to Stok on March 26, the Lieutenant Governor had announced the adoption of the village as a model village focused on self-reliance, cultural vibrancy and sustainability.

Emphasising that development must go hand in hand with heritage conservation, L-G Saxena also launched works under the Beautification of Stok Village – Phase I.

Road shoulder paving using interlocking tiles will be undertaken at a cost of ₹1.70 crore to improve the durability and appearance of village roads. The historic Oracle Path will also be developed through tiling at a cost of ₹1.50 crore, making access to important historical and religious sites safer and more convenient for residents and visitors.

A modern signage system, at a cost of ₹7 lakh, will also be installed to provide wayfinding and visitor information while highlighting Stok’s historical and cultural significance.

The initiatives are aimed at creating an integrated development model in which water conservation strengthens agriculture, improved village infrastructure supports tourism, and increased tourism generates new livelihood and employment opportunities for local youth and women.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor said Stok was not merely a village but a living symbol of Ladakh’s rich heritage, culture, traditions and natural beauty. He expressed confidence that the village could emerge as a major cultural and eco-tourism destination.

“Development is meaningful only when it makes people’s lives easier and secures the future. Our objective is not merely to build infrastructure, but to ensure that development and heritage move forward together. When we conserve water, agriculture becomes stronger; when our villages become more beautiful and accessible, tourism grows; and when tourism grows, new opportunities for employment and livelihoods are created for our youth and women.

With the cooperation and participation of the people, I am confident that Stok will emerge as one of Ladakh’s most beautiful, clean, prosperous and model heritage villages,” said L-G Saxena.

A key component of the development initiative is water conservation. The Phikar Pond, inaugurated and operationalised by the Lieutenant Governor on April 17 under the Him Sarovar Project, is currently irrigating around 300 kanals of agricultural land, benefiting nearly 50 per cent of Stok’s households and contributing to improved agricultural productivity.

The Lieutenant Governor also laid the foundation stone for the remodelling of Zingok Pond, which currently faces leakage and limited storage capacity.

The project will increase its storage capacity from 3.4 million litres to 6.4 million litres, enabling irrigation of almost the entire agricultural area of Stok.
L-G Saxena reiterated that the integrated development of Stok reflects the Administration’s approach of ensuring that modern infrastructure and improved public amenities progress alongside the preservation of Ladakh’s distinctive cultural identity and heritage.