Ladakh Administration revokes Sonam Wangchuk’s HIAL land allotment over financial defaults

Sep 13, 2025

Ladakh [India], September `12 (ANI): In 2018, Sonam Wangchuk’s ambitious project — the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) was allotted nearly 60 hectares of government land in Phyang village. The conditions were simple: pay Rs. 14 crore and complete construction within two years. But seven years on, neither condition has been fulfilled.Unpaid dues have now mounted to nearly Rs. 37 crore, prompting the administration to cancel the allotment. Adding to the controversy, HIAL continues to function without recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC) or All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). As a result, the degrees and diplomas issued hold no legal validity, leaving hundreds of young Ladakhis in limbo.