Srinagar/Kargil, March 7: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has issued stringent directives prohibiting all commercial activities, including sledging and snow scooter rides, at Zero Point, Zojila Pass. Additionally, the court has imposed a complete ban on the use of polythene bags and plastic materials in the ecologically sensitive region.
The ruling comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Abdul Wahid, a councillor from Drass. The PIL highlights concerns over illegal encroachments and the environmental impact of unregulated tourism in the Zojila region, which lies between Kargil district (Union Territory of Ladakh) and Ganderbal district (Union Territory of J&K).
Originally submitted as a letter to the Chief Justice on 1 July 2024, the PIL was later converted into formal litigation. The petitioner emphasised that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had divided the snow-covered area into equal halves in 1962 for operational purposes, naming it ‘Zero Point’. However, in recent years, alleged encroachments by individuals from Ganderbal have led to disputes over territorial boundaries. The petition further argued that unregulated tourism was causing severe harm to the region’s delicate ecosystem, contributing to biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, and exacerbating climate change risks. It also raised concerns that officials from Ganderbal were allowing tourist vehicles up to Zero Point while restricting passenger vehicles from Ladakh, leading to traffic congestion and safety hazards. Despite multiple deadline extensions, the administration of Ganderbal failed to submit a response to the court. However, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, provided a status report detailing the serious environmental threats in the region, including the destruction of natural habitats for rare species such as the Himalayan brown bear and long-tailed marmot due to increasing human activity.
Disruptions to migration and breeding patterns of local wildlife caused by frequent vehicle movement. Air and noise pollution from excessive traffic, as well as littering and improper waste disposal contaminating local water sources. Taking serious note of these concerns, the High Court’s Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M. A. Chowdhary, issued the following directives that include a complete prohibition on all commercial activities, including sledging and snowmobiling, at Zero Point, Zojila Pass and the total ban on the use of polythene bags, plastic packets, and other plastic materials in the region.
The directives also include that the authorities from both Union Territories must organise a large-scale cleanliness drive in collaboration with NGOs and social organisations. “The Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of Ganderbal and Kargil must ensure strict implementation of the order and submit an action-taken report before the next hearing on 15 April 2025,” it states. “The court has made it clear that failure to comply with these orders will result in stringent action against violators. The next hearing on 15 April will review compliance reports from the respective administrations and law enforcement agencies.”
