Furnish schedule to protect Rohtang ecology, state told

Vijay Arora

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Shimla, January 8

The National Green Tribunal today expressed displeasure over the non-compliance of its order and directed the state to furnish the complete time schedule to protect the ecology of Rohtang.

The NGT headed by Justice Swatantar Kumar observed: “It is unfortunate that the state has not shown its requisite interest in protecting one of its most beautiful but ecologically more sensitive area for which it’s obliged to discharge its constitutional and statutory duty.”

It further observed: “It is in the interest of the state to protect this eco-sensitive area not only in the environmental interest, but even in the interest of state revenue. If the glacier is permitted to melt at the rate at which it is stated to be melting for a year probably after few years, there will be no glacier and no tourism and hence no revenue.”

During the course of hearing the state counsel informed the court that he would take complete instructions and provide a comprehensive time schedule for taking of various steps to comply the earlier order passed by the NGT. He further said to effectively take some steps the assistance or permission of the Central Government was necessary.