NGT issues notice to Centre, Himachal over degradation of Koksar in Lahaul Spiti

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 8

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to the Centre and Himachal Government following concerns over environmental degradation being caused at Koksar in Lahaul Spiti. The order was passed yesterday by the NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and A Senthil Vel, Expert Member. The matter has now been listed for April 3.

The NGT yesterday issued notices on the application filed by Akash Vashishtha, who pointed out that the local authority has not framed the regulations in terms of Rule 20(c) of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 for Koksar. He also submitted that the local authority is not acting in accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Court in a similar matter issued in September 2014.

The issue holds semblance to the NGT’s strict directives in the case relating to popular Rohtang Pass. Following NGT directives, the number of vehicles that could go to Rohtang was capped at 1,200, including taxis. This had been done following environmental degradation due to vehicular emissions, resulting in the glaciers in the area turning black due to carbon.

The applicant has moved court on the ground that Koksar is an extremely eco-sensitive area at an altitude of 5484 m (17,992.13 feet) in Lahaul Spiti district on the Leh-Manali Highway in Himachal and remains frozen for more than seven months in a year. His grievance is that the solid waste is dumped/littered not only by tourists but also by the commercial establishments and that is not disposed of properly, segregated and processed by the local authority.

The NGT order also mentions that similar issue, pertaining to another area, had been taken up by the court. This was based on a media report about tourism bringing economic prosperity to the Himalayan region but at the cost of the environment.

Solid waste littered in eco-sensitive area

The applicant pleaded that Koksar is an extremely eco-sensitive area on the Leh-Manali Highway and remains frozen for more than seven months in a year. Solid waste is dumped/littered not only by tourists and others which is not disposed of properly, segregated and processed by the local authority.

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#Environment #Lahaul and Spiti #National Green Tribunal NGT #Shimla