Uttarakhand likely to introduce mandatory ‘green tax’ for tourists

Tourists might likely have to pay a compulsory ‘green tax’ for visiting Uttarakhand in the near future. Whether you are visiting the place for adventure sports, or going on a Char Dham Yatra, or even for those you are planning big fat wedding events with the Himalayas in the backdrop, everyone might end up adding the said mandatory tax.

The urban local body of the place will be deciding about the tax and revenue generated will be used for developing the area and for promoting eco-friendly practices.
The decision was made after Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) highlighted the issue of increasing pollution in a meeting with Forest and Environment Minister Harak Singh Rawat. This came right after the news of Gupta-family wedding in Auli, which generated so much of trash that it took more than a week to clear the debris from the ecologically-sensitive area.

Why is ‘green tax’ necessary for Uttarakhand?

Tourism is one of the aspects that support Uttarakhand’s economy in a major way, as the state is a prominent hub for pilgrimage, wildlife tourism, and adventure activities. As per the latest report of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), 2.25 crore domestic and 1.1 lakh foreign tourists visited the state in 2015. In August 2018, to tackle over tourism, the Uttarakhand High Court asked the Uttarakhand Government to restrict the number of tourists visiting high mountain alpine meadows to not more than 200 at any given time.
And recently, Auli was in the news after a 200-cr worth wedding generated 32,000 kg waste. And therefore, it is high time that this ecological-sensitive area is taken care of and we pay for the damage done.