[ShivrajG]

Just saw this news article in which some tourists are driving through laddakh Pangong lake and displaying alcoholic beverages on a table.

https://zeenews.india.com/india/sham...h-2452786.html

Such hooliganism ravages the natural habitat of Animals and bring shame to our country as well.
I was very young when I started driving and I have done mistakes too but this is beyond comprehension.

[Shreyans_Jain]

I am so glad I visited this majestic lake in freezing mid January. We had it all to ourselves. Our taxi driver as well as the army personnel we interacted with were all lamenting how bad the crowds get in summer months and how nobody has any respect for the nature and this fragile ecosystem.

“People just drive up in hordes, take selfies, drink, litter and leave.” English translation of what the guy at the army medical camp at at Pangong told us. He so happened to have family in Faridabad as well, and we had spent a good half an hour chatting. He said that they provide SOS medical help to well over a hundred people every day in summers, all of them suffering from low oxygen.

[Red Liner]

Reminds me of the nonsense that our Indian brethren did in Bhutan by climbing the chortens and getting selfies done. And then having our entire country banned from visiting.

Pangong Tso is a cultural icon and a religious asset for the people of Ladakh, India, and Buddhists all over the world.

What part of this dont these idiots understand? I hope the registration plates are tracked down and these guys are made to apologise in public. I think having them personally clean the lake area by hand will be a good exercise they won't forget in a hurry.

[shancz]

Was reminded of an apt statement by a friend, only if intelligence increased in proportion to the wealth, we would be living in heaven.
This case is the opposite.

Solutions : None
Detterents :
1. Made to come back and clean the entire shoreline.
2. Apologise
3. Heavy fines, something like ₹10-20k per offence and this being put up so no one misses it. Starting with the airport and other entry points.

[amol4184]

On Twitter users tracked down the owner from reg. plate seen in the video (which is deleted now) and tagged HR and Ladakh police. Not sure if that matters.

The car is Audi and from notorious "chacha vidhayak hai hamare" sort area. These idiots will not be punished. At the most they will lose their IG account. Even if they are, they will be back at it in no time.

My head hurts looking at this non sense. What enjoyment can one possibly get by disturbing such serene place? Our people are so selfish and have zero regards for anyone or anything. For a stupid social media post these guys put to shame the whole country.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by shancz

3. Heavy fines, something like ₹10-20k per offence and this being put up so no one misses it. Starting with the airport and other entry points.

I've never understood why we don't enforce fines for public littering, especially at popular tourist spots. It's not like we don't have the manpower. During covid, there were enough officials going around for months making sure people were wearing masks and the cops were even 'conscientious' enough to fine people driving alone in cars! So why not enforce public littering fines?! In Goa, there are workers who clean the beach twice a day, why not just station someone in uniform to fine those who drop things on the beach in the first place? The Ladakhi taxi unions can spare enough people to man unofficial checkposts and check private vehicles entering their tourist spots, so why not catch tourists who litter?

One generation grows up expecting to be fined for littering and I think we'll solve this problem forever in our country. Plus it'll be a great source of revenue!

[AnandB]

Iirc this video is a few months old as i had seen it shared on Ladakh fb groups. I have been to the exact same spot and it's not possible to man someone to monitor or clean up. People should have basic manners and understanding of their surroundings and not do whatever they want to just because they can. Nothing is going to happen because our country promotes this culture and safe to say for many it's their dream when they can do stuff like that without repercussions.

[Raghu M]

These idiots are everywhere. They don't need to own a luxury car. Look at all our UNESCO heritage sites, you will see names chipped on every wall, every place possible. Coming to this one, it's easy to make suggestions but I am not sure how much funding does the Ladakh govt. have. It takes quite some reserves to patrol, enforce and implement rules in such remote areas. Since no one is around, idiots like these play mischief. I think CCTV cameras, entry and exit point checks (for plastic, bottles, alcohol and even covers) should be accounted for. Like someone was mentioning, fines should be heavy. Not just 100/- or 500/- but in thousands. That should be followed by these vehicles getting banned from entering these areas again. Feels really bad to see the beauty and serenity of such places being disturbed in such manner.

[shancz]

Originally Posted by am1m

The Ladakhi taxi unions can spare enough people to man unofficial checkposts and check private vehicles entering their tourist spots, so why not catch tourists who litter?

Was about to say that. If they can create ruckus without hesitation at the inconvenience and cost of others, this seems like an apt time to take the lead again and ensure that the pristine land is actually preserved in its glory.

Originally Posted by am1m

One generation grows up expecting to be fined for littering and I think we'll solve this problem forever in our country. Plus it'll be a great source of revenue!

Absolutely, its already there but in minor pockets. IIRC there was a case in Kodagu where the litterers were asked to come back and clean up. This is the way to go.

Originally Posted by AnandB

it's not possible to man someone to monitor or clean up.

Self realisation is the solution but we can't wait for everyone to realise, hence we have laws of the land
If manning isn't feasible in all areas then the control over what is being carried in and out works okay in wildlife sanctuaries, that could work here too.
Measures will have to be adapted for the area which the folks responsible can figure out.
Even a elevated watch tower can work like it does on the beaches(as a lifeguard though) during tourist times.

But having the mesage repeated as one enters/lands in various forms with deterring fines displayed also goes a long way without needing enforcement. So does having easily accessible segregated waste-bins across the popular spots.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by am1m

The Ladakhi taxi unions can spare enough people to man unofficial checkposts and check private vehicles entering their tourist spots, so why not catch tourists who litter?

IIRC they did cry hoarse about Nature, pollution etc etc when the ‘attack’ video went viral. They aren’t really bothered about Nature but their business. If anything, incidents such as these will be used to further their agenda of “ban private cars” in Ladakh.

At most, maybe the tent owners in the vicinity will join up forces and prevent people from doing such antics in the future but you can’t possibly police every such lake in the area.

So glad to have visited this place before 3-idiots came out.

[mayukh42]

Originally Posted by AnandB

it's not possible to man someone to monitor or clean up

Right, these manners cannot be enforced, they should come from within.

In all probability the very same people in that video would not do it in a lake in Europe or America when they go on a vacation. Somehow it will occur to them that they should not do it.

The problem is lack of self-respect, nothing else.

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

So glad to have visited this place before 3-idiots came out.

The commercialisation of that area based on that movie could not have been done without administration noticing it. They should have stopped it and preserve the tranquility.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by mayukh42

Right, these manners cannot be enforced, they should come from within.

It begins with enforcement, then after a couple of generations, it becomes "something within", or rather ingrained behavior.

Originally Posted by mayukh42

In all probability the very same people in that video would not do it in a lake in Europe or America when they go on a vacation.

So, that's the question, why does this happen? The probability that Indians abroad will litter is much lower, but here we think it's our birthright. Probably because the local people around them will not litter either. And how did those people in those countries learn not to litter even in areas that aren't policed/monitored? Because for a couple of generations they have lived in cities where littering fines have been enforced.

(ref. https://www.ncsl.org/research/enviro...penalties.aspx if it was just "something within" then why would all those US states bother to define littering fines?)

[MSC]

This is happening in almost each and every hill station or tourist spot throughout the country.
Be it Manali or Shimla or Nainital or anyone else. If not more atleast 50% of so called tourist traffic is consisting of hooglians.
My job profile takes me across the famed Atal tunnel atleast twice a week. And despite clear cut marking regarding the speed limit, you will very easily find an idiot honking madly behind you and flashing headlights as if there is no tomorrow.
Wrong side driving, overtaking on turns, drunken driving, driving with enormous light bars which are enormous enough to scare any hapless mortal driver, breaking traffic lines despite clearcut jams, you name the law, and you will find one or another idiot going the wrong way.
This is a bitter and cruel reality that Indians are among the worst possible guest for anyone throughout the world.
It had been a Silent time from last two years when COVID kept people at their homes and the maddening traffic was absent. But now, again the same things have again resurfaced.

[vredesbyrd]

Originally Posted by MSC

If not more atleast 50% of so called tourist traffic is consisting of hooglians. And despite clear cut marking regarding the speed limit, you will very easily find an idiot honking madly behind you and flashing headlights as if there is no tomorrow.
Wrong side driving, overtaking on turns, drunken driving, driving with enormous light bars which are enormous enough to scare any hapless mortal driver, breaking traffic lines despite clearcut jams, you name the law, and you will find one or another idiot going the wrong way.

I can't even remember how many times I have been bullied or nearly pushed off a cliff by local vehicles in HP and UK. It's not just the tourists. Nearly everyone is a bad driver in the hills/mountains.

[PRS7]

I am disgusted to see these acts by such people. They do not have any right to damage common national property. We can keep banning people to from visiting such sites. It is one way to prevent it. But what all can you ban. Due to abuse of a section of stupid people, I have seen all sorts of bans/restrictions in each and every sphere of life. Which is intolerable. For years I have been looking forward to driving my own SUV to Bhutan. But the stupid act by our countrymen in chorten selfie gate, has made Bhutan to change its policy and make it difficult for driving your vehicle yourself to that country. I feel terribly disheartened and helpless.
As for me strict jail time for at least 1 month is the only strong deterrent to such repulsive acts of stupidity.