NGT takes suo motu cognisance of tourism-inflicted damage to Himalayas

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) at New Delhi took suo motu cognisance of a report outlining the damage to the Himalayas owing to unregulated tourism activities..The case was initiated based on an article published in The Hindu, which said that 240 million visitors are predicted to visit the hill states each year by 2025, and if the problem of solid waste disposal is not handled properly, the Himalayas' delicate environment could pay a significant price..The Bench headed by Justice AK Goel was of the opinion that remedial action is the need of the hour, and directed the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment to study the same and submit a report within 3 months. “Accordingly, we direct the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora, which is tasked with studies of Himalayan region in particular, which includes Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal Hills, Meghalaya, Assam Hills, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh to undertake study and to update any study already conducted in light of the inputs available in the above media report. Such study/updation exercise may be completed within three months,” the NGT directed..The Court further ordered that the report be forwarded to the Chief Secretaries of the twelve States in the Himalayan region as well as to the Secretary, Environment and Secretary, Tourism, Government of India for further action.Pursuant to the submission of the report, the Environment Secretary in the Government of India has to conduct an online meeting with the Chief Secretaries of twelve States within one month of the receipt of the report, as well as other inputs compiled by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The agenda of the proposed meeting should be to steer preparation of appropriate action plans in all the 12 States that will deal with the mitigation measures to offset the adverse impact of tourism activities on the environment.A compliance report has to be submitted before the NGT within six months.[Read Order]