Plying vehicles in Rohtang Pass: SC refuses to stay NGT order

R Sedhuraman

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 26

The Supreme Court today refused to stay restrictions and cess imposed on taxis plying between Manali and Rohtang pass in Himachal Pradesh.

A vacation Bench headed by Justice AK Sikri, however, stayed only on one condition that the taxis meet Bharat Stage IV pollution norms. The Bench passed the order on a petition filed by the HIM Aanchal Taxi Operators Union.

Meanwhile, the Himachal Government said it was also against the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order and would be filing a petition, challenging the tribunal's order.

Appearing for HP, Additional Advocate General Surya Narayana Singh said the NGT order had created law and order problem in the state. The affected taxi operators and tourists were gheraoing the local authorities, including the commissioners.

Further, the tourist inflow had gone up because of the earthquake in Nepal, the AAG pleaded. The Bench asked the Union to approach the NGT seeking modifications in the tribunal's order.

The union had come to the SC seeking a stay on the ceiling on the number of taxis at 1,000 and the environment cess of Rs 2,500 on diesel and Rs 1,000 on petrol-run taxis for each trip to Rohtang Pass.

The NGT in its order has restricted the number of vehicles passing through Rohtang Pass, which is a 13,050 feet high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali, 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 NGT has said the amount thus collected would be kept in the account under a separate head by the state government and utilised only for the purpose of restoring ecology and environment.

It 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.

Each vehicle, which carries more than six passengers, would be liable to pay compensation of Rs 5,000 as environmental compensation for single entry.

NGT had also directed the state to take all requisite steps and call a meeting of manufacturers and suppliers for supplying CNG vehicles to ensure that there was least pollution in the eco-sensitive area of Rohtang Pass.