NGT suspends cess on taxis to Rohtang

R Sedhuraman

New Delhi, May 29

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today suspended the environment cess being levied on taxis plying between Manali and the Rohtang Pass.

On May 5, NGT had imposed a cess of Rs 2,500 on diesel-run taxis and Rs 1,000 on petrol-driven taxis for each visit to the Rohtang Pass. Further, taxis carrying more than six tourists had to pay Rs 5,000 for each trip.

The tribunal suspended all cess until the final decision on the pleas by the Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators’ Union and the state government.

However, the cap on the number of taxis to Rohtang would continue at 1,000 – 600 petrol-based and 400 diesel-fuelled vehicles.

Appearing for the Himachal Government, Additional Advocate General Suryanarayana Singh pleaded that the cess and the cap had affected the tourism, besides causing law and order problem. The union’s senior counsel Vibha Datta Makhija said the restrictions had crippled the livelihood of taxi drivers.

Citing scientific studies, they pleaded that the taxis alone were not responsible for the melting of Himalayan glaciers at a faster pace. Both global warming and emission of fumes across the country had to be blamed for the receding level of ice on the mountains.

On May 26, the Supreme Court had refused to stay the NGT’s order on cess and cap. The vacation Bench of Justices AK Sikri and UU Lalit, however, clarified that taxis would not have to meet Bharat Stage IV pollution norms as directed by the NGT as petrol and diesel in the required grade were not available in Himachal Pradesh to meet the stipulated standard. It also acknowledged that CNG was also not available.

The SC had granted liberty to the union and the state to approach the NGT again pleading for a recall/modification of the tribunal’s order.

The government said the state was witnessing an unprecedented rush of tourists following the devastating earthquake in Nepal. Tourists headed for Nepal had changed their plans and come to Himachal, he said.