Thar off-roading in Pangong, Fortuner chasing gazelle in Changthang: 4 tourists fined Rs 50,000 each for 1st time in Ladakh | Srinagar News

While the cases of such illegal off-roading and stunts have been on the rise in recent times in Ladakh, it is for the first time that such a strict penalty has been imposed on the miscreants.

SRINAGAR: For the first time in Ladakh, the Union Territory administration has acted against what it described as errant tourists for illegal off-roading in Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife areas. One of the offenders was booked for off-roading inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, where the driver allegedly was chasing a Tibetan gazelle.It has imposed Rs 2 lakh penalty on four “offenders under Wildlife Protection Act.” Officials have also impounded four vehicles after an investigation.The violations were reported at four separate locations under the Leh Wildlife Division-Merak and Lukung along the ecologically sensitive shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle, and Sumur in Nubra Valley.Ladakh government spokesperson Sunday said that “acting strictly against rising menace of illegal off-roading, including cases of tourists driving cars in the ecologically sensitive lakes and river streams in Ladakh, the Ladakh administration, on the directions of lieutenant governor VK Saxena, has for the first time, begun prosecuting and imposing hefty penalties on erring drivers.”He said on June 26, the Wildlife department of Ladakh imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 each on four vehicles, who were found violating the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection).“The offending vehicle owners belonged to each from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh-for driving their cars illegally into the Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife zones in Changthang and Nubra, in the last few days.”The action follows a series of violations detected by wildlife officials during routine patrolling and through social media surveillance and reported to the LG secretariat.On June 23, wildlife staff detected a Mahindra Thar (PB 11DD 7773) being driven off-road near Merak, into the waters of the Pangong Lake. The driver had deliberately driven the vehicle into the water for stunt purposes, causing damage to critical wildlife habitat and polluting the lake.The driver was found prima facie guilty under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and later, the vehicle was seized.Similarly, on June 21, wildlife authorities acted swiftly, after a video surfaced showing a Hyundai Creta (UP 81DD 4592) engaged in off-road driving near Lukung along Pangong Lake, within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.The vehicle was finally intercepted at Zingral, Changla Pass, the same day and impounded.Earlier, June 20, another social media video revealed a Mahindra Thar (PB-65BL-8698) driving through a stream inside the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, causing damage to the habitat and ecological integrity of the protected area.Following sustained intelligence gathering through local police, the vehicle was later intercepted and impounded at Kharu on 21 June.On June 17, a viral video circulating on social media showed a Toyota Fortuner (HP 37H 7888) being driven off-road near Nurboo La inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, with the driver reportedly chasing a Tibetan Gazelle.Wildlife officials immediately launched an overnight search in coordination with the Police and traced the vehicle outside a homestay in Hanle, on the morning of 18 June.Subsequently, the four offenders paid the penalty of Rs 50,000 each and got their vehicles released.“The penalty imposed on offending drivers, reaffirms the administration’s commitment to protecting Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem and endangered wildlife.”While the cases of such illegal off-roading and stunts have been on the rise in recent times in Ladakh, it is for the first time that such a strict penalty has been imposed on the miscreants, the spokesman said.“While Ladakh warmly welcomes visitors from across the country and the world, tourists must be responsible and environmentally conscious,” the LG said in a statement urging tourists, adventure enthusiasts and vehicle owners not to venture into protected wildlife habitats, as such activities disturb endangered species and damage fragile ecosystems and also harms the sanctity of the tourist places.The LG has stated that off-road driving within or in the vicinity of protected areas is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and warned that stringent action would continue against all such violators.