The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, which governs the district politically, has decided not to allow any construction near the world-famous Pangong Lake in the Ladakh region.
The move follows a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order that directed removal of all illegal business establishments close to the lake “to ensure sustainable tourism” in the area.
The 134-km-long Pangong Lake is situated about 160 km from Leh town and extends from India to Tibet.
The LAHDC, Leh, said the Martsemik-La in the Chusul area, which shares the border with China, would also be thrown open to tourists. It will be the world’s highest motorable road.
Besides, the Union Home Ministry has agreed to open the Chushul-Tsaga-la-Larikarpo Demjok-Hanley road for tourists for further promotion of tourism in the area.
“To ensure sustainable tourism in the area by following the guidelines of the Supreme Court, the Leh council has formulated a comprehensive proposal for allotment of land to locals so that they can establish their businesses at a new place, maintaining a mandatory distance from the lake. It will go a long way in promoting sustainable tourism in the area and also find a permanent solution to the problems of locals,” an official of the Leh council said.
In this regard, Minister for Cooperatives and Ladakh Affairs Chhering Dorje and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC, Leh, Sonam Dawa jointly conducted a daylong tour of the area today and met various public delegations of Fobrang, Yurgo, Maan, Merak and Spangmik villages.
The visit was aimed at amicably solving land dispute among locals along the Pangong Lake area, which have been arising due to encroachments, setting up of restaurants, camps, resorts, shops and other tourism-related units.
The lake area has been declared a Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary by the Central government.
Similarly, the Supreme Court had in 1987 declared the area a Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary and had issued strict instructions not to disturb the lake area and the endangered wildlife species living and breeding there.
“The people need to follow the regulations set by the Supreme Court, which had said that if the lake area and wildlife are not well protected, the people will instantly lose their business opportunity itself. We advise all local businessmen to shift their establishments to the new area, which will go a long way in promoting sustainable tourism in the area,” the Leh CEC said while addressing the delegations.
In his address, the CEC said the LAHDC had identified land and formulated a land distribution plan for each group in such a way that it would ensure equal commercial benefit to every person in the area.
“To boost tourism in the area, Martsemik-La will also be opened which will be the world’s highest motorable road and become a major tourist attraction,” Dawa said.
Remove encroachments: HC
The 134-km-long Pangong Lake in the Ladakh region is situated about 160 km from Leh town and extends from India to Tibet
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had directed removal of all illegal business establishments close to the lake “to ensure sustainable tourism” in the area
Declared Cold Desert Sanctuary
The Supreme Court had in 1987 declared the Pangong Lake area a Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary and had issued strict instructions not to disturb the lake area
LAHDC bans construction along tourist hotpick Pangong Lake
