Action taken report in compliance of National Green Tribunal order of March 18, 2020 on behalf of Himachal Pradesh state through Joint Secretary (Town & Country Planning/ Urban Development). The report was filed on August 04, 2020.

The NGT had directed for the submission of an afidavit from Himachal Pradesh mentioning the response to the recommendations of the expert committee on the subjects of controlling illegal constructions, waste management, air quality monitoring, ground water conservation, geology, structural stability and hazard status/disaster management, transport and parking, policy and planning and forests and biodiversity.

The Divisional Town & Country Planning Office, Kullu after ground verification, has reported that construction activities in Manali municipal council were permitted strictly as per law. No new cases of commercial land use was being allowed and permitted in Manali MC. Construction activities would not be permitted unless and until adequate provisions for solid waste management and water supply was put in place.

Likewise, the Commissioner, Dharamshala Municipal Corporation has reported that there has been a complete ban on construction activities in Mcleodganj. However, approval for completion to 18 commercial units had been issued by the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation after adherence to adequate provisions for solid waste management and water supply of such units.

The report said that the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board had not issued any fresh consent to establish/no objection certificate (NOC) for the hotels and guest houses in Mcleodganj and Manali after the NGT order of July 29, 2019.

The river monitoring around and within Manali area was regularly conducted. As per the latest results of river monitoring for May 2020, the water quality was in Class-B. The air monitoring of Manali town was being regularly conducted. The latest results of monitoring for the month of May 2020 was observed to be meeting the norms of SO2, NOX, NH3, RSPM and PM2.5. The installation of waste to energy plant at Manali was under process.

There is one common sewage treatment plant (STP) for handling sewage within Manali area. The latest samples of STP was found to be within limits. In Dharamshala municipal corporation (DMC) 100 percent door to door garbage collection was being done. 50% of waste generated in DMC area was segregated at the source and the rest was being segregated at the waste processing facility. 

These were some of the measures mentioned in the report.