Follow Us
Issue limited passes for Gangotri glacier: HC
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, November 7
A Nainital High Court Bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Alok Singh today issued directives to the Chief Secretary to frame guidelines for the protection of the Gangotri glacier by issuing limited passes to pilgrims wanting to view the glacier from a close proximity..
Disposing of a petition, Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Alok Singh also noted that the receding glacier needed to be protected and left it to the government to frame a Glacier Tax, if need be, on people visiting the glacier.
They also directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests to issue directions declaring all hill stationsand glaciers as eco-sensitive zones under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, if not already notified, within three months.
It also directed the state government to provide the basic facilities for the pilgrims visiting Yamnotri and Gangotri. It also directed the government to provide qualified doctors round-the-clock after every 2 kilometres of the track and also banned the burning of fossil fuel within a radius of 10 kilometres from the edges of glaciers.
The judges also issued a complete ban on the felling of trees within the radius of five kilometres in and around Bhimtal, Nainital, Khurpatal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal Lakes.
6
8