HP govt must take tourists to task for defying advisories

REPEATED warnings and safety advisories are not having the desired effect as tourists continue to put their lives at great risk in Himachal Pradesh. Despite signposts prohibiting any such reckless activity, many continue to venture close to riverbeds or walk on frozen lakes. Patrolling has been intensified and fines are now being imposed in Lahaul & Spiti district. The authorities must crack the whip with hefty penalties, not token amounts, and mention in bold letters the consequences of indulging in grossly irresponsible behaviour. The death of two tourists in Arunachal Pradesh last week serves as a painful reminder of past tragedies in Himachal. Both drowned as the ice cracked while they were trying to rescue a member of their group who slipped into the frozen Sela Lake. The site has signboards prohibiting stepping onto the lake as the ice may be unstable and unable to support human weight.

Tourism cannot be a free pass for rash and incautious conduct, certainly not in the hills. Respect for the topography, cultural norms, local sensitivities — each aspect is vital for the host as well as the guest. That’s what makes the journey special. Fiddle with it, and the results can be disastrous. The time has come for the Himachal tourism authorities, the law enforcement agencies and all the stakeholders to spell out in clear terms what is simply not acceptable. A standard quick response mechanism is perhaps the only solution to tackle unruly activities, including hooliganism, that are threatening to disturb a tourism ecosystem that’s been carefully nurtured over decades.

Weather, road and safety advisories carry enormous weight in the mountains. The defiance by some, of late, is deeply disturbing. If stringent action is what it takes to instil discipline and enforce order, the state government must not think twice.