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NGT denies increase in vehicles on Manali-Rohtang route, citing environmental concerns

The National Green Court (NGT) rejected the Him Aanchal Taxi Union's request to increase the number of vehicles on Manali-Rohtang route

By Ground report 27 Apr 2023

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NGT denies increase in vehicles on Manali-Rohtang route, citing environmental concerns

The National Green Court (NGT) has made an important decision by rejecting the Him Aanchal Taxi Union's request to increase the number of vehicles allowed on the Manali-Rohtang route from 1,000 to 5,000 per day.

The union claimed that more parking space was available and that there had been an increase in tourist activities, but NGT refused to increase the number of vehicles due to environmental concerns, glacier damage and climate change.

NGT's decision is hailed as a victory for conservationists and the protection of the Rohtang Pass ecosystem, and highlights NGT's commitment to preserve the environment and safeguard vulnerable ecosystems from the adverse effects of human activities.

The decision is expected to bring much-needed relief to the fragile ecology of the Rohtang Pass region, which has been under immense pressure from unregulated transport and tourism activities.

NGT rejects plea to increase vehicles

The National Green Court (NGT) has rejected an application to amend its 2016 and 2017 orders that restricted the number of vehicles on the Manali-Rohtang route in Himachal Pradesh.

The request sought to increase the number of vehicles from 1,000 to 5,000 per day, citing the completion of the Rohtang/Atal Tunnel and the availability of more parking spaces.

However, the NGT cited concerns about adverse impacts on the area's fragile ecosystem, including glacial damage, air quality, climate change, and flora and fauna, and concluded that the carrying capacity of the area is not allowed him to relax his previous orders.

Conservationists hailed NGT decision

Conservationists hailed the decision by the National Green Court (NGT) to reject the request of the Him Aanchal Taxi Union to increase the number of vehicles on the Manali-Rohtang route from 1,000 to 5,000 per day as a victory for the protection of the Rohtang Pass ecosystem.

The problem first came to the attention of the High Court in 2010 when a letter alleged that 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles a day were causing significant environmental damage.

The matter was subsequently referred to the NGT, which had previously allowed the circulation of a thousand vehicles in 2014.