In a first-of-its-kind initiative to strengthen environmental protection and safeguard Ladakh's fragile ecosystem, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on July 4 inducted 100 ex-servicemen into the Ladakh Environment Protection Force (EPF).

The EPF personnel, comprising retired personnel from the Army, paramilitary forces, and the Ladakh Scouts, will be deployed across ecologically sensitive areas of the Union Territory to check the growing menace of illegal off-roading, wildlife disturbance, and other activities that threaten Ladakh's delicate environment. To strengthen enforcement, the ex-servicemen have been authorised to issue on-the-spot challans for violations within their designated areas.

The initiative has been launched in response to increasing incidents of illegal off-roading, unauthorised camping in protected areas, disturbance to wildlife, littering, and pollution across Ladakh's environmentally sensitive landscapes. The deployment is aimed at reinforcing the implementation of environmental and wildlife protection laws.

The Environment Protection Force has been entrusted with preventing violations in protected wildlife areas, including wildlife disturbance, littering, the use of single-use plastics, indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste, and other environmentally harmful activities.

Besides strengthening environmental enforcement, the initiative also provides a meaningful rehabilitation opportunity for ex-servicemen by enabling them to continue serving society after retirement. Each EPF member will receive a fixed monthly remuneration of ₹25,000 and will be deployed in or near their native or designated areas, allowing them to effectively monitor sensitive locations by drawing on their familiarity with the local terrain.

Flagging off the Environment Protection Force, Lieutenant Governor Saxena said Ladakh possesses one of the world's most fragile high-altitude ecosystems and is home to several endangered wildlife species that require the highest level of protection. He stressed that increasing tourism must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility and said the EPF would play a crucial role in balancing tourism with ecological conservation while promoting responsible tourism practices.

"The Environment Protection Force brings together the discipline, integrity, and commitment of our ex-servicemen to protect this fragile ecosystem. I am confident that they will not only prevent violations of environmental and wildlife laws but also become ambassadors of cleanliness, biodiversity conservation, and responsible tourism across Ladakh," the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor also administered an oath to the members of the Environment Protection Force, reaffirming their commitment to protecting Ladakh's environment, forests, wildlife, and biodiversity. The personnel further pledged to refrain from using single-use plastics in their personal lives and to encourage their families, friends, and local communities to adopt environmentally sustainable alternatives.