HC asks state govt to impose ‘glacier tax’ on tourists

NAINITAL: Uttarakhand high court has directed the state government to frame guidelines for protection of glaciers by issuing “limited passes” to tourists and also asked it to look into the possibility of imposing ‘glacier tax’ on those visiting places near the glaciers.
Taking notice of the depleting glaciers, a division bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and Alok Singh said, “The chief secretary, state of Uttarakhand, is directed to prepare the guidelines for permitting people to go in close proximity of glaciers, if necessary, by issuing limited passes, to save the depleting glaciers.It shall be open to the state government to impose a reasonable cess/fee, by terming it glacier tax, on the persons visiting the areas near the glaciers.”
“The amount realised by way of glacier tax shall be used only for the benefit of people visiting the area including the pilgrims,” said the bench on Monday while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition on encroachment and illegal construction around various water bodies.
Uttarakhand has over 1,000 glaciers many of which draw adventurous trekkers and religious devotees in large numbers in the summer. Among the more famous glaciers are Bandarpoonch, Gangotri, Khatling, Dunagiri, Milam, Pindari, Sunderdhunga, Kafni, Ralam and Namik.
At present, no passes are issued by the tourism department to those travelling towards the glaciers. “The tourism department does not regulate visits to the glaciers. However, the forest department or district authorities issue passes to tourists in some protected glaciers such as Gangotri,” said J C Beri, deputy director, tourism department.
The court has also directed that no new permanent constructions shuld come up within a radius of 25 km from the edges of all glaciers in the state, and that all encroachments in these areas be removed. The HC also banned burning of fossil fuel within 10 km from the glaciers, asking the state government to provide LPG and kerosene to residents of these parts. All plastic bags and other such objects have also been banned within 20 km of the glaciers.
The HC has also directed the Union environment ministry to declare all hill stations in the state as eco-sensitive zones.