Using, selling or stocking single-use plastic items and littering in public places in Ladakh will now attract stringent penalties, as the Union Territory administration has imposed a strict ban on identified single-use plastic products.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has issued an order enforcing the ban.
Officials said that any individual, commercial establishment or institution, including hotels and eateries, found violating the ban will face an environmental penalty of Rs 10,000, while littering will attract a fine of Rs 5,000. Random checks for prohibited plastic items will also be conducted at Leh Airport and entry points into Ladakh.
The administration said the move is aimed at strengthening environmental protection and preserving Ladakh’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem, which faces increasing threats from the improper disposal of single-use plastics, particularly around tourist destinations.
The framework prohibits the use, sale, storage, stocking, distribution, transportation and supply of all identified single-use plastic items, including plastic cutlery, cups, plates, straws, trays, wrapping films, thermocol decorations, plastic flags, stirrers and plastic banners below the prescribed thickness.
To ensure effective implementation, a wide range of district and field-level officials have been authorised to conduct inspections, detect violations, issue challans and recover penalties. Surprise inspections, videography, photography, CCTV footage and other legally admissible electronic evidence may be used to initiate action against violators.
Authorised officers include Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Tehsildars, Executive Magistrates, officials of the Ladakh Pollution Control Committee, Tourism Department officers, District Panchayat Officers, Block Development Officers, Municipal Committee officials, Forest Department personnel and members of the Environment Protection Force.
Saxena said the initiative seeks to promote responsible tourism and preserve Ladakh’s pristine landscape despite growing tourist footfall. He urged residents and visitors alike to avoid littering and help protect the region’s ecological heritage.
“Ladakh’s pristine environment and natural beauty are our greatest treasures, and it is our collective responsibility to preserve them for the tourists visiting Ladakh. As we strive to develop Ladakh into a world-class tourist destination, we must ensure that development goes hand in hand with environmental responsibility. The strict enforcement against single-use plastics and littering is not merely a regulatory measure, but a commitment to safeguarding Ladakh’s ecological heritage and promoting a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability,” he said.
