Shimla MC moots green fee for outside vehicles

The MC expects to raise Rs 6 crore annually,depending on the tourist inflow around the year. “There are so many people coming to Shimla. They use roads,parking lots and enjoy other amenities here. Few leave back litter and garbage as well. Then who takes care of Shimla’s amenities and cleanliness? It’s the Municipal Corporation,” she said,justifying the move.

Won’t the proposal turn off tourists? Sood quotes the example of Manali,where the green fee was imposed around five years ago and nobody had stopped visiting Manali since. “Do you remember how chaos was created at Rohtang Pass and Manali as thousands of tourists visited the place? Shimla will remain the biggest attraction,and I believe nobody will mind paying the green fee,” she said.

However,some of the sitting councillors are insisting on deferring the decision and leaving it to the new House,which will be constituted after elections in May this year. The outgoing House has just two months’ time before the model code of conduct comes into force.

“It’s too early to comment on the move as the Mayor has only proposed the green fee in the next year’s budget. It will need a threadbare discussion to work out its modalities,rules,exemptions and rates,” said Gaurav Sharma,a young BJP councillor. “We are going to tell the Mayor to leave the matter to the new House,instead of taking any hasty decision.”

Yet,he is not against the idea of green fee. “The move will generate resources for adding to Shimla’s infrastructure and facilities,” he said.

Sood termed opposition to the move politically motivated. “Look,how the world is progressing. We should be innovative and widen our horizons. A change in the mindset is very important,” she said.