Stakeholders threaten stir against NGT ban on Rohtang

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 17

Various organisations in Manali today threatened to launch an agitation from August 22 if the state government fails to get the ban lifted on tourist vehicles going to the Rohtang Pass.

In compliance with orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the district administration today imposed a complete ban on all petrol and diesel vehicles going to the Rohtang Pass. Except CNG or electric vehicles, no other vehicles will be allowed to go the Rohtang Pass for tourism purpose, said the district administration.

On May 5 this year, the NGT had allowed 1,000 vehicles, including 600 petrol and 400 diesel per day to go to the Rohtang Pass for tourism purpose for three months from May 15 to August 14.

On the expiry of the three-month period, the district administration imposed a complete ban all petrol or diesel vehicles going to Rohtang Pass.

In a memorandum sent to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh through Manali SDM Jyoti Rana, members of various unions and organisations, including Kullu-Manali Paryatan Vikas Mandal, Manali Hoteliers’ Association, Vyapar Mandal, Luxury Coach Owners Association, Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union and village panchayats Palchan and Sanaag, opposed the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles going to the Rohtang Pass without providing an alternative to the people associated with tourism.

They also opposed the ban imposed on all commercial activities at Solang Nullah, Gulaba and Rohtang Pass.

They also urged the government to get orders for regularisation of the tourism activities at Solang, Gulaba and Rohtang Pass which were going on for decades.

They said the tourism in Manali had been reduced to just five per cent since the ban imposed on various activities in the region. If the state government failed to address the problem by August 21, all organisations related to tourism and local people would be forced to launch an agitation from August 22 in the Manali Vidhan Sabha area of the district, they said.

Tourism ‘badly hit’

• In a memorandum sent to the CM, members of various unions and organizations opposed the ban on going to the Rohtang without providing an alternative to the people associated with the tourism.
• They said the tourism in Manali had been reduced to just 5 per cent since the ban was imposed.
• If the state government failed to address the problem by August 21, all organisations related to tourism will launch an agitation from August 22 in the Manali Vidhan Sabha area, they said.