Leh, June 28 (IANS) Acting tough against visitors doing illegal off-roading in the highly fragile environment of Ladakh’s Pangong and other protected wildlife areas, authorities on Sunday imposed over Rs 2 lakh fine on tourists found indulging in such acts.

Seen as the first action of its kind in the Ladakh region, the administration has imposed a total penalty of Rs 2 lakh on four tourists for illegally driving their vehicles through Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife areas, as part of a major crackdown on off-roading in ecologically sensitive zones.

The action was taken by the Wildlife Department on the directions of Lt Governor V.K. Saxena, who has called on tourists to act responsibly and respect Ladakh’s fragile environment.

Officials said four vehicle owners from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were fined Rs 50,000 each under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, after being found guilty of driving in protected areas, including Pangong Lake, Changthang, and Nubra wildlife sanctuaries.

Their vehicles were impounded and released only after the penalties were paid. According to the administration, the action followed violations detected during routine patrolling and through social media surveillance.

The incidents were reported from Merak and Lukung along the shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle and Sumur in Nubra Valley. In one of the latest cases, an SUV was found being driven into the waters of Pangong Lake near Merak on June 23 for stunt purposes, causing damage to the fragile habitat and polluting the lake.

In another case, a vehicle was caught off-roading near Lukung within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.

Authorities also acted against an SUV that was filmed driving through a stream inside the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, and another SUV that was allegedly driven off-road near Nurboo La while reportedly chasing a Tibetan gazelle inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lt Governor Saxena said Ladakh welcomes visitors from across India and abroad, but stressed that tourists, adventure enthusiasts and vehicle owners must refrain from entering protected wildlife habitats or disturbing the region’s delicate ecosystem.

He warned that off-road driving within or near protected areas is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and said strict action against violators will continue to safeguard Ladakh’s biodiversity and environmentally sensitive landscapes.

One of the main demands of Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), two main representative bodies of the Union Territory, is that guarantees should be given by the Central government to protect and preserve the heritage, culture and the delicate ecology of the region.

–IANS

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