The National Green Tribunal on Monday disallowed activities as paragliding and riding snow scooters at Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh as the “extremely eco-sensitive area cannot be subjected to further degradation.”
The green bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, however, clarified that it would be “appropriate to permit some activities at lower levels so that its consequences upon the environment and ecology could be observed.”
The tribunal further stressed that no other activity of any kind, except providing of local dresses and photography would be permitted at Rohtang Pass.
In this connection it observed, that people involved in providing local dresses for photography, would be allowed to carry on their activity at Rohtang, Solang, Gulaba and Marhi. Those given permit in this regard, would be issued with licenses, that would be provided by the concerned authority.
It also said cameraman or the people providing these services would not be allowed to carry on any other ancillary activity or take eatables at any of the identified sites.
Regarding operation of vehicles, the green panel said 800 petrol vehicles per day would now be allowed to go to Rohtang instead of the 600 as permitted in its earlier order.
Meanwhile, the bench appointed six advocates as local commissioners and asked them to file a comprehensive report on compliance of the terms and conditions of its orders within three weeks.
The tribunal would consider permitting other activities at Rohtang only after the receipt of report of the commissioners appointed under this order.