Addressing Over Tourism: Panel suggests regulation of tourists in Mussoorie

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has put forth recommendations to tackle the issue of Mussoorie's carrying capacity. As per a ToI news article, the report suggests implementing measures such as tourist regulation, charging visitors, utilizing proceeds for waste management, monitoring construction activities, rejuvenating spring-sheds, and promoting rainwater harvesting to meet peak season demands.

The report highlights critical areas like tourism, construction, sewage, waste management, and drinking water in Mussoorie. The panel notes that tourist arrivals have skyrocketed from 8.5 lakh in 2000 to over 30 lakh in 2019, leading to concerns like traffic congestion, pollution, waste accumulation, water scarcity, and infrastructure limitations.

To manage the influx of tourists, the panel proposes «registration of tourists based on availability of parking and accommodation» along with charging fees for visiting Mussoorie, with the revenue directed towards waste management and cleanliness. Additionally, the report suggests allowing new construction adhering to Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority bylaws, with specific controls on building height, slope percentage, drainage, and restrictions in the freeze zone.

However, some local residents express skepticism about the report's effectiveness. They believe that the rampant issue of illegal construction is not adequately addressed, citing over 1,000 pending challans against violators in a recent RTI reply.

Concerns are also raised about the decade-old permission for construction within the supposed freeze zone, causing difficulties for residents attempting to build their homes. To regulate the influx of tourists into the city, the local authorities banned the entry of tourists