Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, launched the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Incentive Scheme–2025 on December 17, notified by the Department of Tourism, UT Ladakh, aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and protecting Ladakh’s fragile ecological balance.

During a presentation, Secretary, Tourism, informed that the scheme encourages the installation of decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in hotels and guesthouses to ensure scientific wastewater treatment, prevent pollution, and promote responsible tourism.

Recognising hotels and guesthouses as the backbone of Ladakh’s tourism economy, the scheme seeks to address environmental challenges arising from improper wastewater disposal through clean and sustainable waste management practices.

The scheme applies to new and existing hotels and guesthouses in UT Ladakh with a room capacity of 10 to 19 rooms. Eligible establishments must be provisionally or permanently registered with the Department of Tourism and possess valid permissions or No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from competent authorities.

Under the scheme, eligible units installing decentralised STPs will receive financial assistance of 75 percent of the equipment cost, subject to a maximum ceiling of ₹5 lakh. An additional 10 percent incentive will be provided for hotels or guesthouses owned by women residents of UT Ladakh. Eligible expenses include equipment cost, installation, transportation, and consultancy, excluding GST and other non-admissible expenditures.

The scheme aligns with the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, as notified by the Ladakh Pollution Control Committee (LPCC). While installation of STPs is not mandatory for obtaining Consent to Establish or Operate, eligible units are strongly encouraged to install STPs and avail of the scheme benefits, ensuring compliance with prescribed effluent quality standards.

To avail the incentive, applicants must install LPCC/CPCB-approved STP technology, obtain necessary consents from LPCC, and submit the prescribed application to the Department of Tourism. Upon verification and satisfactory commissioning, the incentive amount will be released through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account.

The scheme is voluntary and applicable only to hotels and guesthouses with 10 to 19 rooms. The responsibility for installation, operation, maintenance, and compliance of the STP rests with the beneficiary, while the Department of Tourism reserves the right to inspect, modify scheme provisions, and recover incentives in case of non-compliance.