Kullu-Manali hoteliers not in favour of Rohtang ropeway

Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, September 13

Hoteliers of Kullu-Manali have opposed the move of the state government to construct a ropeway towards the Rohtang Pass, saying it will snatch the source of livelihood from hundreds of people in the region.

They said Manali had only one well-known tourist destination — Rohtang Pass — which was connected with the national highway. “The place provides employment to hundreds of poor people,” the hoteliers added.

Since it had road connectivity, there was no need to have a ropeway.

“We want ropeways at other unexplored destinations like Dashohar Lake, Patalsu, Manjanu Kote, Rani Sue Lake, Baragarh Fort, Chanderkhani Pass, Dev Tiba, Brigu Lake and many other attractive tourist places in Kullu-Manali, which lack accessibility,” said Anil Kant Sharma, a hotelier in Manali.

Anup Thakur, president of the Hoteliers Association, Kullu-Manali, said: “The Rohtang ropeway will harm the ecology of the area as a large number of trees will be felled. New plants won’t be able to survive. We are against the felling of trees.”

“We have provided a detailed list of unexplored destinations in Kullu-Manali, which should have a ropeway. It will boost tourism here and reduce the traffic rush towards the Rohtang Pass. We are not opposing ropeways as these promote tourism. But these should come up at unexplored places so that the tourism sector gets a boost,” he added.

“We are thankful to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur that he is focusing on promoting tourism in the state. He has been putting in efforts to make HP a favourite with tourists.”

Taxi operators and Manali residents too are against the Rohtang ropeway and now hoteliers are also seconding them.