HC: Is it feasible to ply electric vehicles to curb pollution in Corbett

NAINITAL : The Uttarakhand high court on Friday asked the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to suggest within four weeks whether it would be feasible to ply electric vehicles to avoid noise pollution in the Corbett Tiger Reserve, home to nearly 240 tigers.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Lok Pal Singh gave the directions while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) regarding encroachments around the tiger reserve. The next hearing is on September 24.

In 2012, the high court said noise limit around protected areas should be restricted, following which a government order was issued. The GO stated that in and around protected areas, the noise level should not exceed above 50 decibels during daytime and 40 decibel during the night . The directions were given after heavy noise pollution was reported during festivals and year-end in private resorts and other areas adjoining Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Modifying its previous order, the high court permitted plying of 32 private gypsies/commercial gypsies in the morning as well as in the afternoon session in Jhirna and Bijrani zones of Corbett Tiger Reserve. “We also permit 15 private gypsies/commercial gypsies in the morning as well as in the afternoon session in Durgadevi zone (of the reserve).”

In its September 4 order, the HC said that it was apprised about a 2015 communication by the ministry of environment, forests and climate change to the chief wildlife warden, Uttarakhand, whereby 32 vehicles each have been permitted to ply in Jhirna (Entry Gates Dhela and Kalagarh) and Bijrani (Entry Gate Amdanda) of Corbett. HTC