Srinagar, Nov. 14 -- Jammu and Kashmir's draft Sustainable Mountain Development Policy (SMDP) has proposed a mountain green cess for people visiting notified tourist destinations.

This is a part of a broader plan to regulate tourism, protect fragile mountain ecosystems and generate dedicated funds for local conservation.

The draft policy proposes a cess of Rs.500 for national tourists visiting Zone B destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop, Sonamarg and Doodhpathri, while visits to ecologically sensitive Zone A sites, including glaciers, high-altitude lakes, alpine meadows and high-altitude trekking routes, would attract a charge of Rs.1,000.

Foreign nationals would be charged Rs.2,000 for visits to both categories of destinat...