The Uttarakhand High Court has asked the state government to remove all permanent structure, encroachments and limit entry of tourists in high altitude pastures.

Passing a judgment on a public interest litigation in Nainital, the court banned night stay of tourists in meadow, limited the number to 200 tourists per day and also to discontinue commercial grazing of cattle.

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Aali-Bedini-Bagzi Bugyal Sanrakshan Samiti, based at Lohajung (Chamoli, had filed a PIL in the High Court in 2014, seeking intervention of the court in preserving the ecology of the high altitude pastures.

Passing a judgment on 21 August, the High Court even asked the state government to consider declaring all import high altitude valleys and alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows, Bugyals with rich plant as high altitude national parks or sanctuaries. The court has fixed six month time for declaring selected meadows as national parks and sanctuaries.

The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the state government to remove all the permanent structures and encroachments from the alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows, ‘Bugyals’ in Uttarakhand including Aali-Bedini-Bagzi Bugyals within a period of three months.

Earlier during the summer session villagers used to take their goat/sheep for grazing in the high altitude meadow. Now, even this age old practice is likely to get affected with the HC orders. The court has clearly asked for a ban on the commercial grazing of cattle in meadow and imposing reasonable restrictions on shepherds by allowing only permitted number of cattle.

All the District Magistrates in Uttarakhand directed to remove plastic water bottles, cans etc. from the alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows and that too within six weeks.