Shimla, Feb 19 (UNI) A Public Interest Litigation was filed before Superme Court of India seeking direction to the 13 Indian Himalayan states including Union Government to determine the carrying capacities of all ecologically fragile areas, hill stations, high-altitude areas, highly visited areas and tourism destinations.
The counsel for the petioner Advocate Akash Vishashtha told UNI that a Bench led by Chief Justice, D.Y. Chandrachud issued notices to the center and 13 Himalayan states on Writ Petition filed by Former IPS Officer, Dr. Ashok Kumar Raghav. PIL maintained that Tourist resort in Himalayan state have exceeded the carrying capacity direction in terms of tourists inflow, impact of tourism, vehicular traffic, scarcity of ground and surface water, availability of drinking water, water for sanitation, impact on air and water quality, impact on trees, forests, bio-diversity and wildlife, food supply etc .
PIL was filled before the apex court to issue mandamus direction to the Respondents to determine the Carrying Capacities above ecological factors in a period not exceeding six months to submit the Carrying Capacity reports. Petitioners further demanded that direction should be issued to Respondents to prepare Master Plans or Area Development Plans or Lay-out/Area Development or Zonal Plansb or Tourism Plans for all ecologically fragile area. Petition stated that that hill stations, highly visited areas and tourism destinations, even outside the purview of state urban planning and development laws.