Develop new tourist spots, Kullu admn urged

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Mandi, July 20

Stakeholders today urged the Kullu administration to develop new tourist destinations and regulate tourism-related activities at the eco-fragile Rohtang Pass.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a complete ban on commercial activities at Rohtang Pass, Solang Nallah and Marhi in the upper region of Manali. Thousands of people living in nine villages between Manali and Rohtang were rendered jobless, as nearly 90 per cent population of the villages was engaged in tourism-related activities at these places.

The district administration held a meeting with people affected by the ban imposed by the NGT at the mini-secretariat in Manali.

The affected people suggested to the administration to develop alternate tourist destinations in surrounding areas and regulate tourism in eco-sensitive tourist places. They also said skiing and renting out of traditional and snow dresses could be started as these did not pollute the environment.

Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kullu, Rakesh Kanwar said they would prepare a report on suggestions of the stakeholders and submit it to the government on July 26 and the government would put it before the NGT during its next hearing on August 13.

The DC said the government got the forest clearance for 92 bighas of land at Solang and Marhi to develop eco-friendly markets.

Manali MLA Gobind Thakur, Hoteliers Association president Anup Thakur, local stakeholders Roshan Thakur and Ved Ram, panchayat members of the nine affected villages, ADM Viney Singh and Manali SDM Jyoti Rana, among others, were present at the meeting. A meeting would also be held tomorrow.