SC refuses to stay NGT restrictions on tourist vehicles plying through Rohtang Pass

NEW DELHI: The tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh is all set to be hit in the ongoing summer season with the Supreme Court on Tuesday refusing to stay NGT order limiting the number of tourist vehicles passing through Rohatang Pass to 1,000 per day.

A bench comprising Justice AK Sikri and Justice UU Lalit turned down the plea of tourist operator association for stay of NGT order.

The bench asked the association to approach the NGT for modification of order.

Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union submitted that the order of National Green Tribunal (NGT) was coming in the way of not only taxi operators but also the middle-class tourists. It submitted that the order has come at the peak season and the tourists who cannot afford vacation in foreign countries were the worst sufferers of the NGT order.


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The bench, however, stayed one direction of NGT for tourist vehicle to comply with BS-IV standards.

The NGT had also imposed environmental cess of Rs 2,500 on diesel vehicles and Rs 1,000 on petrol vehicles for each trip between Manali and Rohtang Pass.

Rohtang is a 13,400 feet high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali and acts as the gateway to the remote district of Lahaul and Spiti from the picturesque Kullu Valley.

The NGT in its order has restricted the number of vehicles passing through Rohtang Pass for tourism purposes to 600 petrol and 400 diesel per day on first-come, first-serve basis and directed that each vehicle allowed would pay an environmental cess.

The tribunal had also directed the state government to post a team of police, transport and other departments at Vashisht and Gulaba areas between Manali and Rohtang with complete infrastructure and machinery.

It had said that each vehicle, which carries more than six passengers, would be liable to pay compensation of Rs 5000 as environmental compensation.