The National Green Tribunal has taken strict cognizance of the violation of environmental rules in the tourist destination Kufri. NGT has issued notice to DFO Shimla and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for failing to take remedial steps. The next hearing of the case will be on December 20. The tribunal said that the Delhi lawyer had informed the NGT in a letter about the lack of sanitation system in Kufri. Taking cognizance of the letter, NGT had constituted a joint committee on March 13, 2023 and summoned the report.
The committee had told the court from the report that there were many violations of environmental rules in Kufri. The environment is being harmed by natural and vegetative degradation. More than a thousand horses are registered in the small area, exceeding capacity. Apart from this, due to lack of solid waste management, heavy pollution is being spread in the area. After this, on July 12, 2023, the Tribunal constituted a committee with the membership of DFO Shimla and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.
The tribunal had ordered the committee to take remedial steps and file a report to prevent damage to the environment due to natural and vegetative degradation. The tribunal found that the committee had not filed any report. In the letter addressed to the tribunal, it has been alleged that horse dung has endangered the health of the villagers in Kufri, a famous tourist spot adjacent to Shimla. Due to lack of cleanliness system, lung infection keeps occurring in people. People are also suffering from stomach diseases. Ammonia oxide is released from horse dung. The soot leaches into the drinking water sources of this area and contaminates the water.
Earlier, the High Court had taken cognizance of the poor condition of Kufri. The court had ordered the government to implement the project report of Rotary Club Shimla. Rotary Club had prepared a detailed report on developing Kufri on the lines of major tourist destinations of Jammu and Kashmir, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Aharbal and Patnitop. The court had ordered the government to take appropriate steps to develop other tourist destinations in the state.
