NGT says no diesel tourist vehicles at Rohtang from May 2015

The National Green Tribunal is continuing its war on vehicles, particularly those with diesel engines. Earlier this month, it banned diesel vehicles over 10 years of age in Delhi. Now it has prohibited all diesel tourist vehicles from entering the Rohtang Pass in the state of Himachal Pradesh from next month. It had set May 1 as the date for the ban to be enforced. This date has been postponed to May 5.

Rohtang Pass, located at an altitude of 13,015 ft. on the Manali-Leh Highway is a popular tourist attraction. The ban will be enforced by the Kullu administration and is likely to hit more than 1,300 Delhi-based tourist taxis of local operators. Tourist buses run by HPTDC will also be affected. Army vehicles, HRTC buses, private vehicles and vehicles of Lahaul residents have been exempted from the ban.

The state government has been asked to make a serious effort to operate vehicles based on alternate fuel, including CNG.

Source: Indian Express, The Tribune, Indian Express