High Court seeks reply from Centre & State over littering of the Atal Tunnel

Seeking response from center and state about incidence of stockings of garbage and littering of Atal Tunnel Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh High court on Thursday heard a petition pending against the settings up of number of Toll Plaza without furnishing construction four lane project on Ambala-Shimla-NH5 and Kiratpur-Manali-NH3 by NHAI on yesterday. The court  now fixed hearing on the matter till March 27 seeking reply from the center, NHAI and state government. During the hearing on Friday Division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sabina and Justice Satyan Vaidya has taken strict cognizance of the stacking of solid waste beside  the NH -3 littering of NH-Tunnel by the commuters and Tourist. During the hearing court  asked Chief Secretary Parbodh Saxena to file status report on the issue beside action being taken under the provisions to avoid or prevent filth.  Appearing for state, advocate general pleaded that it would come up with new status report and court directed the government that it will submit another affidavit  on behalf of the Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary Tourism.  In nut shell court had also sought info  about the laid norms and penalty or fines being imposed to litterers and the amount of fines collected in the last one year. It is worthwhile to mention that on the information of littering and spitting along the walls of Rs 3300 Cr round the clock historical Atal Rohtang Tunnel court had already drawn the attention of state in the matter. During the previous hearing had directed  NHAI, BRO, District Administrations, center and state government  to follow the provisions made or to be made to prevent pollution around NH and Atal Tunnel. This Includes putting up warning boards, dustbins, toilets for men and women and measures being taken to keep the area neat and clean.  Since its commission in 2020 Atal Tunnel has emerged as a favorite tourist point to the  tourists who are visiting it for recreational and snow point to avoid scorching heat . To provide round the clock facilities from Manali to Leh two more tunnel are being built by BRO and NHAI including ATR. In the northern region of the Pir Panjal range of the Northwest Himalayas to strengthen Indian armed forces supplies round the year beside developing infrastructure.   Court had been directed the Administration to place  dustbins matching the scale of pollution and beside questions it  not settings sufficient hygiene and  toilets Services.