Kedarnath chopper service: NGT seeks reply from Centre, Uttarakhand

New Delhi April 25 (IANS) Reacting to a plea on unregulated chopper operations causing disturbance in the eco-sensitive zones especially in the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary the NGT on Tuesday sought responses from both central and Uttarakhand governments.

In December 2015 the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had asked the state government to frame an aviation policy for the eco-sensitive zone.

The bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to the Union Environment and Forests Ministry and the Uttarakhand government over the threat perception to the ecology of the region around Kedarnath.

According to the plea helicopters operate regularly for the convenience of pilgrims as more and more people are opting for the aerial way since the 2013 flash floods.

The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is home to near-threatened Himalayan Tahr and the endangered Himalayan Musk Deer.

--IANS
kd/nir/vt