SHIMLA: National Green Tribunal has directed the Himachal Pradesh government officials to expedite the work on Palchan-Rohtang ropeway and also file a report on the same within four weeks. The work has not started as the local panchayat are yet to issue a no objection certificate to the project.Himachal Pradesh government had signed Memorandum of Understanding with a private company in October 2015 for the poject. The 8.1 km ropeway would not only reduce carbon emission by reducing vehicular traffic on 50 km Manali-Rohtang road, but would also ensure the accessibility to 13,050 feet Rohtang Pass during winters when heavy snowfall blocks the road leading to the mountain pass.While conducting a hearing on Rohtang Pass pollution case on June 19, Circuit Bench of Tribunal headed by its chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar observed that one of the contentions raised is that the construction of the ropeway system from Manali to Rohtang would lead to a large number of trees to be cut down. The counsel appearing for the state had submitted that the forest clearance has not been granted as yet. The order read that gram-panchayat Palchan is not issuing a no objection certificate. "Keeping in view the need for tourism and to ensure that least adverse affect is caused to the ecology and environment of that eco-sensitive area, it is important that the ropeway project should be completed with utmost expeditiousness," it added.Tribunal said the habitants of the area have some reservations on the rehabilitation scheme once the ropeway project is completed. The tribunal however assured the people and said, "We make it clear that people who will suffer losses in their business or lose their jobs as a consequence of the construction of the ropeway project would be given priority under the relief and rehabilitation scheme prepared by the state government."Tribunal directed the secretaries of rural development, tourism, urban development, forest and panchayat of the state to file a report within four weeks. The order further read that all possible efforts should be made by the government officials to take forest clearance from the competent authority and the matter should be expedited without fail.The administration should also encourage the tourist and vehicle owners to carry eco-friendly bags and dump their garbage in the prescribed dust bins in Kullu-Manali for which arrangement should be made at the check points, the tribunal said.

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