In a bid to smoothen traffic on the Manali-Rohtang road, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Himachal Pradesh government to expedite the ropeway project on this route without any delay. A circuit bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the secretaries concerned of the state government to ensure the compliance and file a report within four weeks.
"Keeping in view the need for tourism and to ensure that least adverse affect is caused upon the ecology and environment of that eco-sensitive area it is important that the ropeway project should be completed with utmost expeditiousness," the bench, also comprising Justice Dalip Singh, said.
The green panel asked the state government to make all possible efforts to take forest clearance from the competent authority. The tribunal made it clear that the people who will be displaced of their business would be given complete priority for rehabilitation under the Relief and Rehabilitation scheme. "We directed Deputy Commissioner, Kullu to inform this direction to the residents of that area and to the panchayats to make them understand the benefits that would accrue to them rather than feeling discouraged by the construction.