Remember the infamous Gupta family who married their sons in the Himalayan ski resort and hill station, Auli? Soon after the wedding, the family was asked to pay the entire cost for waste disposal in Uttarakhand’s Auli after mass outrage over the waste. Now, the authorities have announced a mandatory ‘green tax’ that every visitor may soon have to pay irrespective of the motive of their visit.
This decision was made after the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) raised concern over the increasing pollution in the state.
The urban local body of the place will decide the tax and the revenue generated will be used for the ‘area’s development and sustenance of eco-friendly practices.’
Uttarakhand may introduce 'Green Tax', as visitors unfortunately affect the area adversely. Given the eco-sensitivity, the eco-friendly practices there must sustain.
When will learn to be mindful of ou actions and their consequences?#ZeroWaste #Environment #Sustainability pic.twitter.com/dDnFCoq1k7— NAGAR NGO (@NAGAR_Ngo) July 5, 2019
According to the Times of India, The move comes after the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) raised the matter of escalating pollution due to the entry of tourists in the Himalayan state in a meeting with forest and environment minister Harak Singh Rawat. This came after the recent weddings of South Africa’s Gupta family at Auli which had generated tonnes of trash that took over a week to clear from the ecologically-fragile area.
EXCELLENT MOVE
The best and effective way to collect the Green Tax is to add it the Hotel and Reoirts Room Rates. pic.twitter.com/NeRaVQOnt5— Glorious Punjabis Globally (@GloriousPunjab1) July 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/pankajjha_/status/1146979653078282241
It’s time we pay for the damage done!