Rohtang Pass row: SC seeks response from Himachal Govt on plea challenging NGT order

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Himachal government over the plea by taxi owners, challenging the order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) restricting the entry of all diesel and petrol based tourist vehicles in the Rohtang Pass area.

The apex court said that without going through the reply of the state government and figures of the affected cab drivers, it will not interfere with the NGT order.

The hearing in the matter has been adjourned for two weeks.

Last week, the Centre supported the NGT order and told the Supreme Court that the cap is in the interest of ecology.

However, the Himachal Pradesh government opposed NGT's May 10 order that allows only 1,200 vehicles, including 400 diesel cars, to drive upto the 13,050 feet high mountain pass.

Taxi owners say this is the only big earning period on account of peak tourism season, adding they are suffering as they have to wait in queue for a long period for customers and CNG.

The NGT had in its order restricted the number of vehicles to pass through Rohtang Pass for tourism purposes to 600 petrol vehicles and 400 diesel per day on first-come, first-serve basis and had directed that each vehicle allowed would pay an environmental cess.

Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas and a popular summer getaway, which is around 51 km from Manali, and connects Kullu Valley with the remote district of Lahaul and Spiti.