An order of the National Green Tribunal imposing “high congestion charges” on Rohtang Pass-bound vehicles has sparked off widespread resentment in the entire Beas valley of Himachal Pradesh. Traders, hoteliers and cab-drivers of Manali, Kulu and Mandi allege that this imprudent decision is bound to hard-hit the tourism industry and make people starve who earn their yearly livelihood during the 3-month tourist- season.
They further say that nowhere in the world such anti-tourist policy has been imposed. High-congestion charges have been levied for going to the eco-sensitive Rohtang Pass at the rate of Rs1,000 for diesel vehicle, Rs2,500 for commercial vehicle and Rs5,000 for commercial vehicle with capacity of more than six persons. This avoidable burden on the tourists coming from home and abroad is bound to ruin the tourism industry in the panoramic hill State, says Manali Hoteliers Association President, A.R. Thakur. On an average 1,000 vehicles, including 600 diesel vehicles daily go to the eco-sensitive Rohtang Pass and come back.
The order of the NGT has exempted the army vehicles, HRTC buses, private vehicles of the local population as if they would not cause environmental degradation. In a nutshell the NGT order seems to deter tourists from coming to Manali, the world famous tourists place. legal experts wonder if the courts and tribunals are competent to usurp the domain of executive by passing such orders. The hoteliers, taxi-operators and traders have, therefore, decided to go to the apex court for seeking justice, says president Him-Anchal Taxi Operators Union, Puran Chand.
Meanwhile, several representations have been made to the Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh to immediately intervene in the matter. Senior BJP leaders are understood to have taken up the matter with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Health Minister, J.P. Nadda to take appropriate remedial steps in the matter without delay.
They have asked whether heavy congestion charges were going to make Rohtang eco friendly. Will heavy congestion charges help conceive the dream of Prime Minister Modi to make Himachal a Switzerland of India. Environment lovers wish if the NGT would also have taken cognizance of the large-scale illicit green felling across the State and done a meaningful service to the State including in the constituency of the Forest Minister in Bharmour which hit the headlines of the national dailies and caused roar in the State Assembly.