Ladakh deploys 100 ex-armymen to curb eco violations, fine tourists ₹2 lakh
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Species, protected areas & wetlands· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
Ladakh launched the Environment Protection Force (EPF) comprising 100 ex-servicemen to patrol ecologically sensitive zones and penalize environmental violations.
Background
The EPF consists of 100 retired personnel from the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and Ladakh Scouts. The force is authorized to issue on-the-spot challans, including fines of up to ₹2 lakh for activities like illegal off-roading and littering.
Facts for Prelims
- PlaceLadakh: A Union Territory in northern India known for high-altitude cold deserts and fragile ecosystems.
- FactEPF: A newly formed force in Ladakh specifically tasked with patrolling ecologically sensitive areas.
- FactFine amount: Tourists can be fined up to ₹2 lakh for environmental violations like littering and habitat disturbance.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the challenges of balancing large-scale tourism with ecological preservation in fragile high-altitude ecosystems like Ladakh.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Regulatory enforcement gap: Difficulty in monitoring remote, high-altitude terrains for illegal off-roading and waste dumping.
- Eco-tourism trade-off: Balancing the economic benefits of tourism with the irreversible degradation of fragile alpine biodiversity.
- Community-led conservation: Potential for ex-servicemen to act as a bridge between state enforcement and local ecological stewardship.
Keywords: Ecological sensitivity · Sustainable tourism · Regulatory enforcement · Biodiversity conservation · High-altitude ecosystems
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