NGT summons HP Chief Secy, ors to discuss Rohtang Pass issues

Concerned over delay by Himachal Pradesh government in rehabilitating people whose livelihood has been affected due to ban on commercial activities in the Rohtang Pass area, the National Green Tribunal today summoned its top officials for an in-chamber discussion on the issue.
"We have had enough. Rohtang is closed for now. So this is the time to put infrastructure in place. Ask your (Himachal Pradesh) Chief Secretary, Secretary of Environment, Secretary of Tourism, Secretary of Transport, Deputy Commissioner Kullu and Superintendent of Police, Kullu to be present before us on November 23. A chamber meeting will be held," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar said.

The green panel had earlier asked the state government to hold consultation with all stake-holders, whose livelihood was affected by the ban on commercial activities on the 13,050- feet pass, and frame a rehabilitation plan to re-engage them in alternative work and sustainable tourism.
In July, it had banned commercial activities in Rohtang Pass including horse-riding, snow-biking, paragliding, tyre- tube gaming and snow-scooters at Rohtang, Solang and Marhi.
During the hearing today, the counsel for the state submitted that a meeting was to be held on the issue of rehabilitation but has been postponed to next week due to a recent incident of fire that gutted over 80 houses in Kullu on the night of November 15.

The counsel said the state is presently focussing on the rehabilitation of the fire-affected people in Kullu.
The tribunal had banned the 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.