Leh, Sept. 12 -- Once hailed as an innovator and the inspiration behind Bollywood's Phunsuk Wangdu, educationist-turned-activist Sonam Wangchuk is now at the centre of a major controversy in Ladakh.

His flagship project, the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), has lost its land allotment after authorities cited financial defaults and regulatory violations.

In 2018, the Union Territory administration allotted nearly 60 hectares of government land in Phyang village for HIAL. The terms were clear: pay Rs 14 crore within one year and complete construction within two years. Seven years later, officials say neither condition has been fulfilled.

Unpaid dues have now spiralled to nearly Rs 37 crore. The Ladakh administration has...