At 16,700 Feet, Chumur Set To Become Ladakh's First Model Border Village

Leh: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for Ladakh's first Model Border Village at Chumur under the Centre's Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP). Located at an altitude of nearly 16,700 feet along the India-China border in eastern Ladakh, Chumur is home to 24 households and a population of 91 people, most of whom depend on Pashmina rearing and livestock-based livelihoods.The project is being positioned as a model for sustainable development in high-altitude border areas and is expected to serve as a template for similar initiatives across the region.Officials said Chumur will be the first of 10 villages to be developed under the programme in Ladakh. The initiative aligns with the Centre's broader objective

of strengthening border settlements, improving living standards and reducing migration from remote frontier regions.Under the project, residents will be provided climate-resilient passive solar houses designed to withstand harsh winters, when temperatures in the region can plunge to minus 35 degrees Celsius. Each family will receive a housing unit with an attached bathroom, kitchen garden space, livestock sheds, fodder storage facilities and an additional room that can be used for homestay tourism activities.The village will also receive upgraded civic infrastructure, including year-round water supply, sanitation systems, renewable energy-based power facilities and improved digital connectivity. Plans include the development of a school, primary health centre, community hall, parks, a community-run café and a tourist interpretation centre.Authorities said the project aims to create new livelihood opportunities by promoting tourism along the Korzok-Hanle circuit and supporting value-added Pashmina products. A commercial greenhouse, to be developed with support from the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), will enable year-round vegetable cultivation. The produce is expected to meet local requirements and supply nearby Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police establishments.Addressing residents during the foundation-laying ceremony, Saxena said the initiative reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming border villages into vibrant and self-reliant communities. He described the project as an effort not only to improve living conditions but also to strengthen the strategic and economic resilience of India's border regions.Officials expect the first phase of housing construction to be completed by September, subject to weather conditions.