Leh, June 28 -- In a first-of-its-kind enforcement drive aimed at protecting Ladakh's fragile ecosystem, the Union Territory administration has imposed a total penalty of Rs 2 lakh on four tourists for illegal off-roading in ecologically sensitive and protected wildlife areas, officials said on Sunday.
The action, taken under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is being viewed as a strong message against reckless tourism activities that threaten Ladakh's delicate environment. Officials said the four offenders, whose vehicles were registered in Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, were fined Rs 50,000 each for driving into protected habitats in Pangong Lake, Changthang and Nubra Valley.
The Wildlife Department of Ladakh imposed the penalties on June 26 after conducting investigations into a series of incidents reported from different parts of the region. The violations were detected during routine patrolling, social media monitoring and intelligence inputs, which were subsequently reported to the Lieutenant Governor's Secretariat.
Officials said the incidents occurred at Merak and Lukung along the ecologically sensitive shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle and Sumur in Nubra Valley, all falling under the jurisdiction of the Leh Wildlife Division.
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena reiterated that while Ladakh welcomes tourists from across India and abroad, visitors must adopt responsible and environmentally conscious tourism practices. He urged adventure enthusiasts and vehicle owners to avoid entering protected wildlife habitats, warning that such activities disturb endangered species, damage fragile ecosystems and compromise the sanctity of tourist destinations.
According to officials, one of the latest incidents took place on June 23 when wildlife staff detected a Punjab-registered Mahindra Thar being driven into the waters of Pangong Lake near Merak. The driver had allegedly entered the lake deliberately to perform stunts, causing pollution and damaging a sensitive wildlife habitat. The vehicle was subsequently seized. In another case on June 21, authorities intercepted a Uttar Pradesh-registered Hyundai Creta after a video surfaced on social media showing the vehicle being driven off-road near Lukung within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.
Earlier, a Punjab-registered Mahindra Thar was found driving through a stream inside the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary in Nubra, while a Himachal Pradesh-registered Toyota Fortuner was allegedly seen chasing a Tibetan gazelle near Nurboo La. All four vehicles were impounded and released only after the owners paid
the penalties.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.