The representatives of several Taxi operators unions, Dhaba owners, Kiosks vendors, pony owner, affected by the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in and around Manali held a meeting with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday and urged him to provide them relief after the orders of the NGT curbing several activities in the region.
Virbhadra Singh assured them that the State Government was concerned and alive to their problems and had been taking up the issue with NGT time and again. The Government would try to convince NGT for removing and relaxing the unreasonable restrictions imposed at present, he said.
“There exists life beyond the mighty Rohtang Pass and the road leading to leh and the other one leading to Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir via Pangi (Killar) was of strategic importance,” he said.
He expressed hope that the NGT would soften its stand by thoroughly going through the proposal and recommendation of the
stake-holders.
As far the issue of plying of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles upto Rohtang was concerned, the Chief Minister said that the land for the setting up ‘Mother Station’ of CNG had been identified at Una and the ‘Daughter Station’ at Vashishth in Manali and expressed hope the CNG stations would be set up soon.
The Chief Minister said the State Government would certainly take up the issue with NGT for allowing 1000 petrol vehicles upto Rohtang Pass in two Shifts viz: one in early morning and other by noon.
On the issue of CNG, the Taxi operators who met Chief Minister said that they were also ready to convert their means of transportation into CNG operated vehicles but till the time the plant was not set up, their plea be brought into notice of the NGT to allow them to ply 1000 petrol operated vehicles in two shifts upto Rohtang.
Virbhadra Singh said that the Government had decided to rehabilitate equal number of those, who were displaced by the orders of the NGT along the Manali-Rohtang highway and added that the eco-friendly markets/ stalls would be constructed at Marhi with efficient sewerage disposal system and other environmental precautions would also be taken to avoid pollution.
A consensus was reached upon that the affected people would submit their genuine proposals within two days so that appropriate reasons could be explained to NGT on its next hearing.
The Chief Minister also vetoed the idea of plying small HRTC vehicles up-to Rohtang and said that the Government was more concerned to give relief and rehabilitate the people who were affected by the orders of NGT to carry out commercial
activities.
The Snow Scooter operators also placed their suggestion of plying petrol driven 40 scooters out of existing strength of 80.
Additional Advocate General, Shravan Dogra, also convinced the delegation of the stand being taken by the State government before the NGT. Chief Secretary, P Mitra and other officials were present in the meeting.