New Delhi: The Supreme Court on September 23 asked Himachal Pradesh government to pay up Rs 1 crore which would form a part of Rs 5 crore corpus to be utilised for restoration of ecology of rock-faces defaced by advertisements painted by multi- national soft drink companies and book publishers.

A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice B N Kirpal, Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice Arijit Pasayat said, "It is the duty of the state government to protect environment and for dereliction of this duty Rs 1 crore will be deposited by Himachal Pradesh to meet the expenses for restoration of ecology."

The court had taken serious view of a number of advertisements painted by MBD books, Coca-cola, Pepsi and Birla White on the rock-faces on both sides of the road from Rohtang to Manali.

This was brought to the court's notice by Solicitor General Harish Salve, in his capacity as amicus curiae in the forest matters.

The Bench asked Salve to inform the court as to the money to be deposited by other delinquent companies by September 26.

The court also issued notice to Karnataka government for similar rock advertisements in and around Bangalore painted by ACC, Koramandal King, Rasna, Fertiliser and Chemical Travancore, Alpine and Indotech.

The court also issued notices to these companies.

PTI