Capping Tourism for Conservation at Kufri's Mahasu Peak

The National Green Tribunal has directed Himachal Pradesh to limit tourism at Mahasu Peak, Kufri, to preserve its environment. The tribunal's committee recommends capping visitors at 2,232 and horses at 293 per day. Guidelines for eco-friendly operations and horse dung management are to be issued.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Himachal Pradesh government to set eco-friendly guidelines for tourism at Mahasu Peak in Kufri. This decision follows a panel's recommendation to limit daily tourists to 2,232 and horses to 293, aimed at conserving the area's ecological balance.

In a ruling passed on October 14, the tribunal asked the state to issue directives in line with these recommendations and submit an action report within three months. The joint committee, led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava (retd) and expert member A Senthil Vel, based its numbers on the Cifuentes ecological methodology.

The investigation followed a petition by Shailendra Kumar Yadav, concerning environmental degradation due to excessive horse use and unregulated tourism. Subsequent reports highlighted ecological damage and necessitated action plans for managing horse dung and tourist pressures. An initial reduction of horses to 500, with further annual decreases, was proposed to address horse-owner livelihoods.

(With inputs from agencies.)