The National Green Tribunal today allowed entry of 500 petrol vehicles in eco-sensitive Rohtang Pass area, conceding to the demands of taxi associations and local residents that livelihood was being affected.
The green panel passed the directions after taking into account the submissions made by various taxi associations and local residents in Himachal Pradesh who claimed that their business was being affected.
"In order to keep the eco-tourism going on in the state and also to protect revenue... We consider it appropriate to allow only petrol vehicles and private cars which would be permitted to go to Rohtang. In any case, more than 500 vehicles would not be allowed," a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The tribunal directed the authorities concerned to monitor that "vehicles satisfy emission standards prescribed" and they shall not be permitted to carry load in excess of permissible load.
The green bench had extended its stay on its order banning entry of all diesel and petrol tourist vehicles till August 14 while limiting the number of vehicles entering the popular destination to 1,000 per day.
The tribunal had banned tourism and commercial activities in the Rohtang Pass area to check environmental degradation and melting of the glaciers which were receding at the rate of 20 metres a year since 1986.
Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali and connects Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh.
