The Ladakh Administration has, for the first time, levied substantial fines totaling Rs 2 lakh on tourists for engaging in SUV stunts within the ecologically sensitive areas of Pangong Lake and other protected zones. This decisive action comes amidst the peak tourist season, which has seen a surge in visitors to the high-altitude region, drawn by its scenic beauty and respite from heatwaves gripping the plains.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that the Wildlife Department has penalized four vehicles, each with a Rs 50,000 fine, for violating the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The owners of these vehicles, hailing from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, were found to have illegally driven their SUVs into Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife areas in Changthang and Nubra over the past few days. An official statement highlighted that the total penalty imposed underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Ladakh’s delicate ecosystem and its endangered wildlife populations.
While instances of unauthorized off-roading and vehicle stunts have become more prevalent in recent years, this marks the first time such stringent penalties have been enforced. All four vehicles were impounded following thorough investigations and were only released after the stipulated penalties were paid. The enforcement action was initiated after wildlife officials detected a series of violations during routine patrols and through social media surveillance. These cases were subsequently escalated to the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat for action. The transgressions occurred at four distinct locations under the jurisdiction of the Leh Wildlife Division: Merak and Lukung along the ecologically vulnerable shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle, and Sumur in the Nubra Valley.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, in a statement, reiterated that while Ladakh extends a warm welcome to visitors from across the nation and internationally, it is imperative for tourists to conduct themselves responsibly and maintain environmental consciousness. He urged tourists, adventure enthusiasts, and vehicle owners alike to refrain from venturing into protected wildlife habitats, emphasizing that such activities disrupt endangered species, inflict damage on fragile ecosystems, and diminish the inherent sanctity of the region’s tourist destinations.
In a specific incident on June 23, wildlife staff observed a Mahindra Thar, bearing the registration number PB 11DD 7773, being driven into the waters of Pangong Lake for stunt purposes. This act not only damaged critical wildlife habitat but also led to the pollution of the lake. The driver was preliminarily deemed guilty under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, and the vehicle was subsequently seized. Similarly, on June 21, wildlife authorities intervened after a video surfaced depicting a Hyundai Creta (UP 81DD 4592) being driven off-road near Lukung, within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. The vehicle was intercepted and impounded at Zingral on the Changla Pass on the same day.
Further compounding these violations, a video recorded on June 20 showed a Mahindra Thar (PB 65BL 8698) traversing through a stream within the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, causing damage to the fragile habitat. Following persistent intelligence gathering efforts, aided by local police, the vehicle was intercepted at Kharu on June 21. Another viral video, dated June 17, captured a Toyota Fortuner (HP 37H 7888) being driven off-road near Nurboo La, inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, with reports indicating the driver was pursuing a Tibetan gazelle. Wildlife officials, in collaboration with the police, launched an overnight search and located the vehicle outside a homestay in Hanle on the morning of June 18. The four individuals responsible for these violations subsequently paid the Rs 50,000 penalty each, securing the release of their vehicles.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.