SHIMLA: Taking cognizance of Littering at Atal tunnel, Rohtang by tourists, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh has issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Himachal Pradesh, Deputy Commissioner Lahaul Spiti, Principal Secretary (Tourism), State Pollution Board, Boarder Road Organization and others. The High Court has sought reply in connection with the dumping of piles of garbage near the Atal Rohtang Tunnel that has emerged a new tourist hotspot in Lahaul-Spiti.
The Bench comprising the Chief Justice A.A. Sayed and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed these orders on a writ petition taken up suo motu, as Public Interest Litigation, on the basis of a newspaper item.
The Court has directed the respondents to file reply-affidavit detailing the time- bound plan of action including special drives to ensure that the garbage is cleared.
“It appears that there is no adequate arrangement of dustbins near the Tunnel and there is also a dire need of washrooms for men and women”, the court observed.
High Court directed the government authorities to indicate the provision in law under which fines are imposed for littering and the amount of fines collected in the last one year.
High Court also sought reply on what provisions are made regarding warning display boards for imposing fine for littering.
The court also sought to know as to how many dustbins, washrooms for men and women are installed in the area.
What measures are taken to monitor the area to keep it clean, court ruled.
The littering by the tourists near the Atal Tunnel has gone unchecked.
There are heaps of garbage on the roadsides of the Tunnel at its north portal.
Meantime, it needs be mentioned here that what is shocking is that state pollution control board, which is responsible for regulating pollution has not even bothered to issue a notice to the local authorities in this matter, what to talk about checking pollution in the ecologically sensitive Lahaul and upper Manali valleys.
Apart from the high Court order, over 5000 to 6000 tourist vehicles cross the north portal every day in peak season.
District administration has set up SADA barrier near the north portal in Lahaul-Spiti and collect Rs 300 per non-Himachal vehicle as green tax from the tourists.
Local members were not consulted while putting up SADA barrier that falls in Koksar- Sissu belt, said Anuradha Rana, zila parishad member of the area.
"We had raised this issue with administration and sought how mcuh funds were collected and why the littering was not being checked in the valley", she said.
Atal Tunnel is built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Pangal range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway in Himachal Pradesh. It and was inaugurated on 3rd October, 2020.
The construction of Tunnel was completed by the Border Road Organization (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence.
Atal Tunnel has emerged as a new tourist hot spot in Himachal Pradesh as a large number of tourists make a beeline for the north portal of Lahaul Valley after the opening of the Tunnel.
The matter has been adjourned for 17.08.2022.
