{"id":321435,"date":"2024-05-04T16:00:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-04T10:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=321435"},"modified":"2024-05-10T10:05:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T04:35:13","slug":"madras-high-court-directs-regulating-entry-vehicles-visiting-nilgiris-dindigul-districts-granting-e-passes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/05\/04\/madras-high-court-directs-regulating-entry-vehicles-visiting-nilgiris-dindigul-districts-granting-e-passes\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Roads are carrying beyond their capacity’; Madras HC directs for regulating entry of vehicles visiting Nilgiris and Dindigul Districts by granting e-pass"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Madras High Court:<\/span> In a matter relating to the fixation of carrying capacity in respect of the Nilgiris District and Dindigul District, the division bench of N. Sathish Kumar, J. and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, JJ. without imposing any restrictions on the number of vehicles entering the hill stations, the Court directed for regulating the entry of vehicles by granting e-passes.<\/p>\n

The Court took note of its order dated 22-04-2024, wherein it recorded that the Government has roped in two institutions viz., Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai and Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, to take up the study for fixing carrying capacity in the hill stations viz., the Nilgiris, the Nilgiris District as well as Kodaikanal in Dindigul District.<\/p>\n

Pending such a study to be undertaken by the Government, the Court said that the question relates to the interim measures which could be ordered.<\/p>\n

After perusing the status report, the Court noted that a whooping 20011 vehicles are entering the Nilgiris every day, which includes 11509 cars, 1341 vans, 637 buses, 6524 two-wheelers in an average during the peak season. The Court said that the situation is alarming. There can be absolutely no place even for the movement of traffic and it is affecting everyone, the residents, the tourists, the visitors etc., without exception.<\/p>\n

More specifically, the Court said that:<\/p>\n

(i) the local residents cannot even move even for their regular livelihood including for medical emergency and their very right to life is affected;<\/p>\n

(ii) the tourists also cannot reach their destinations and it spoils their very experience;<\/p>\n

(iii) the environment is the worst affected.<\/p>\n

Therefore, while the study is being undertaken, for the current year, without any restrictions on the number of vehicles entering the hill stations, the Court said that entry of vehicles can be regulated by granting e-passes.<\/p>\n

The Court said that the entry passes can be issued after due filling in of a form with relevant questions as to (i) the nature \/ type of the vehicle whether it is a car, van, bus or two; (ii) whether the entry is for tourist or other purposes; (iii) whether it is day trip or a stay; (iv) the number of persons travelling; (v) and other relevant particulars.<\/p>\n

The Court suggested for a user-friendly system, whereby the Tourists or any other person visiting the Nilgiris or Kodaikanal will be able to fill in and an auto generated e-pass can be granted. It can also be doubled up by linking payment gateway portal in respect of Green Tax or Toll Charge. It also suggested that e-passes can also contain important information, such as, ban of one-time use of plastic products like water bottles, polythene bags, etc., and such other instructions for the tourists so that the solid wastes are properly disposed and managed.<\/p>\n

Thus, the Court said that without imposing any restrictions, by regulating the movement, firstly as temporary measure\/pilot basis, the entire system can be made more efficient and improved besides providing the much-needed valuable data for the study which is going to be undertaken by the State of Tamil Nadu through the aforesaid agencies.<\/p>\n

After noting that due to extreme drought conditions, adequate drinking water to the residents have become a challenge, the Court gave the following directions to the District Collector:<\/p>\n