Manali cabbies to file SLP in SC against NGT order

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Manali, June 25

Displeased over the fresh directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over a curb in the number of visits by vehicles to Rohtang, taxi operators, Manali, have decided to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against NGT verdict.

President of the Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union Raj Kumar Dogra said a taxi would be allowed to Rohtang twice in a week, affecting the earning of taxi operators in the tourist season.

“It will affect the livelihood of taxi operators, who had owned the vehicles on loan in a hope that they will repay it after good returns during the tourist season,” he said.

“We have decided that soon we will file an SLP in the Supreme Court to seek relief,” he said.

Hoteliers association president Kullu-Manali Gajender Thakur said, “The association welcomed the verdict of the NGT to protect the ecology of Rohtang but we favoured the demand of taxi operators as their livelihood depends on tourists.”

The NGT has directed the state government as well as the district administration to ensure that no taxi should visit Rohtang more than twice a week. It is admitted that permits are being granted repeatedly by misusing the online system, the order reads.

Taking a tough stance to check the misuse, the NGT has directed the government that CCTV cameras will be installed on each check post within one week, which will be connected to the computer to maintain the record of vehicles that cross the barriers and go up to Rohtang.

According to NGT verdict, any vehicles found to be violating any condition will be liable to pay Rs 5,000. The order reads that if a person is found to be violating rules more than three times, his permit for running the vehicle will stand cancelled.

Due to limited number of permits to Rohtang, taxi operators had earlier forced the district administration to change the window opening time of the online permit system. But this time, the National Green Tribunal gave a strict direction to the district administration that the online registration for permits to Rohtang will not be opened at 12 noon and 12 night as was being done.

However, it will be opened at 10 am every morning and then again at 4 pm on the same day. Two windows for registration will continue to operate regularly.