The National Green Tribunal today castigated the Himachal Pradesh government for delay in deciding the mode of transport which it would prefer to ply on the 51-km long Manali-Rohtang highway, an eco-sensitive area.
The green panel also took exception to the state government's stand that it was mulling to purchase environment friendly electric buses to curb pollution in the state, after having tested CNG buses.
"You have taken more than a year to decide which vehicles should go to Rohtang Pass. You make a statement before us stating as to which mode of transport you would prefer in this region--CNG or electric.
"Come with clear cut instructions on the matter. We will ask the Ministry of Heavy Industries to buy two electric buses for the state and you put them on trial. But, please do something," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The observations came after the state government told the bench that it has yet not decided about the mode of transport in the eco-sensitive area of Rohtang pass.
In August last year, the state government had told the green bench that it has planned to introduce CNG buses for regular operation from Vashist to Rohtang Pass and its trial runs have been successful.
However, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, in a power-point presentation to the bench, had demonstrated the possibility of running electric and hybrid buses from Manali to Rohtang and said it was ready to part- finance state government in purchase of 25 electric buses.
It had also told the green panel the cost of these 25 buses would be Rs 50 crore and the funding of the project would be in the 75:25 ratio.
The Tribunal has banned tourism and commercial activities in the Rohtang Pass area to check environmental degradation and melting of the glaciers, which have been receding at a fast pace of 20 metres a year since 1986.
