Clear Kullu rocks of slogans, impose fines, says Virbhadra

Two days after The Indian Express reported that the rocks have been defaced again, this time by “Free Tibet” slogans, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has intervened to get the rocks cleaned.

Two days after The Indian Express reported that the rocks have been defaced again, this time by “Free Tibet” slogans, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has intervened to get the rocks cleaned.

“This is a very serious act of vandalism of rocks, which the government will not permit. I have directed the state’s Forest Department to get the paints removed. The rocks are very precious and paintings on these rocks is a serious anti-environment act,” he said. The CM admitted that due to the negligence of officials during 2002, the rocks were painted with advertisements by softdrink companies and others. “I have advised the Forest Department to remain fully vigilant and impose penalities if anyone damages the rocks or uses paints for any form of advertisment — commercial or otherwise,” he said.

Divisional Forest Officer Kunal Satyarthi has already visited the spot at Dobhi on Kullu-Manali NH and conducted inquiries about the painting of the slogans on a huge rock facing the national highway.

Story continues below this ad

He said the rocks had been paintedly apparently by Tibetan settlers living nearby. “This time, we will let them off by giving a simple warning because the paintings seem to have been done due to lack of knowledge about the Supreme Court ban. If they do it again, a huge penality will be imposed,” he said.

Satyarthi said he would himself supervise the work to clear these paints using the same techniques as were used during the earlier operation in 2002. The paint used this time was of not very high quality and would be cleared in the next two-three days. Acknowledging the role of The Indian Express in keeping Kullu-Manali-Rohtang belt free from environmental damage, Kullu’s conservator of forests S S Negi said if this was not brought to the notice of the administration, the problem could have spread to areas beyong Dobhi and Manali.

The Supreme Court, in 2002, had fined HP government Rs 1 crore and also two soft drink companies Rs 2 lakh each for defacing rocks along the national highway.