NGT rejects plea by taxi operators to increase number of vehicles going to Rohtang pass from Manali

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently rejected a plea by Him Anchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali to increase the number of vehicles which are permitted to go to Rohtang pass daily [Court on its own motion vs State of HP and Ord.].A bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Sudhir Agarwal as well as expert member Dr A Senthil Veil noted that the tribunal had earlier restricted the number of vehicles to 1,000 per day in view of adverse impact on glacier, climate change, the environment and carrying capacity of the area.The tribunal stated that data of air quality presented by the taxi operators union merely because of restricted vehicles cannot be a ground to presume that more vehicles could be sustainable. It also stated the the opening of Atal Tunnel or availability of parking space did not change the situation which led to the imposition of restrictions.."Data of air quality merely because of restricted number of vehicles situation is better cannot be ground to presume that increased number of vehicles will be sustainable. The opening of Atal Tunnel or availability of parking space does not change the situation which led to passing of earlier orders by this Tribunal," the NGT said..The taxi operators union sought permission to raise the cap on vehicles going from Manali to Rohtang Pass to 5,000 from 1,000. For this, they approached the Supreme Court seeking modification of NGT's orders prescribing the cap. The Supreme Court transferred the matter back to NGT..The union contended that due to the opening of Atal Tunnel in 2020, availability of more parking space in Gulaba, Marhi and Rohtang pass, and increased tourism activities, it was necessary to increase the cap to 5,000. vehicles a day. It relied on the opinion of an expert in this regard. .However, the NGT determined that the opinion of the expert relied upon could not be treated as conclusive enough as it had passed the order prescribing the existing cap based on a lot of material based on reports of other experts. Hence, it rejected the plea. .Advocate Bhakti Pasrija represented the taxi operators union..[Read Order]