Three sealed till date for not having STPs
*Similar action in Jammu, other places also on cards
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 20: Nearly two dozen hotels in Katra town, the base camp of pilgrimage to Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine situated on Trikuta Hills, are under the radar of the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board for polluting holy Ban Ganga by directly discharging sewage into the rivulet.
However, three prominent hotels have already been sealed by the District Magistrate Reasi Indu Chib after the issue was brought to her notice by the Pollution Control Board in exercise of powers vested under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that few days back two hotels—New Sham Guest House and Hotel Meridian were sealed by Reasi District Administration after repeated non-compliance to the instructions of the Pollution Control Board vis-a-vis installation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) was brought to the notice of the District Magistrate.
Today also, District Magistrate sealed Hotel Kings situated on Ban Ganga Road for polluting the holy rivulet by directly discharging untreated sewage into it in blatant violation of environment laws, sources said.
“No activity having bearing on environment can be taken in hand without prior consent of the Pollution Control Board as warranted under Sections 25, 26 and 21 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 respectively”, sources said, adding “hotels with room capacity of 20 or more are required to meet the effluent/sewage standards prescribed under Environment Protection Act, 1986 by having STP of required capacity in place and functional”.
However, Hotel Kings Ban Ganga was operational in flagrant violation of these requirements of law and its owner had failed to obtain consent from the Pollution Control Board and to have the STP of required capacity in place and functional in the hotel.
The hotelier was accordingly served with repeated notices particularly notice dated November 23, 2019 calling upon him to show reasons as to why legal action including closure of his hotel be not taken for violation of law. However, the hotelier failed to show any response besides failing to take measures to meet the requirements of laws governing environmental protection.
As operation of hotel without STP can prove detrimental for human health and environment besides being in flagrant violation of laws governing the environmental protection, the Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board B M Sharma few days back issued order for immediate closure of Hotel Kings while exercising powers vested under Section 33 (A) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 31(A) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Accordingly, the District Magistrate Reasi was directed to close down Hotel Kings immediately. Even Chief Engineer Electric and Maintenance Jammu was directed to snap electric supply to the hotel. Similarly, Director Tourism Jammu was asked to deregister the hotel and Raj Kumar, Proprietor Hotel Kings was asked to cease the operation forthwith. Finally, District Magistrate today sealed the hotel.
“Around two dozen more hotels in the Katra town, which are continuously polluting Ban Ganga are under the radar of the Pollution Control Board and shortly action will be taken against them for not installing STPs”, sources informed, adding “exercise in respect of these hotels under the provisions of environmental laws has already been set into motion by the Pollution Control Board”.
They further said, “there are two categories of hotels—both in Katra and Jammu. The first category is of those who have not installed STPs and the second category is of those hoteliers who despite having installed STPs are not putting the same to operation to avoid operational cost”.
“A detailed survey in respect of both these categories has already been conducted and action will be taken against all of them for flouting the environmental laws”, sources said.
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