Rohtang-bound vehicles stopped at Gulaba

Our Correspondent

KULLU, DECember 1

The district administration today stopped all vehicles going to Rohtang at the Gulaba barrier as November 30 was the last date to visit the pass.

Earlier, an National Green Tribunal Bench (NGT), headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, had restricted the number of vehicles to 1,000 (600 petrol and 400 diesel) per day on first-come, first-serve basis to Rohtang till August 14.

The date was further extended till November 30. The state had assured it that it would place orders for CNG buses and ensure that there was no vehicular pollution in the eco-sensitive area. The Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali, had also approached the apex court for relief, sighting the loss of livelihood of over 2,500 families.

Manali SDM Jyoti Rana vehicles bound to Lahaul and further would be allowed to cross the pass after seeking the permit, while residents of Lahaul were being allowed to cross upon producing identity proof at the Gulaba barrier.

Puran Chand, president, Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali, said a joint meeting with all stakeholders would be held tomorrow and further strategy would be decided. He added that the government had failed to represent the views of the stakeholders in a correct manner before the NGT. He further added that it would be futile to carry the tourists only till Gulaba, as there was no snow there.