NGT orders verification of consent to operate status for 49 Mussoorie hotels

India's National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stern directive to the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), demanding a thorough verification of the "Consent to Operate" (CTO) status for 49 hotels implicated in environmental norm violations. The tribunal emphasized that operations must cease for any establishment lacking valid statutory clearances.

The NGT's principal bench in Delhi, during a hearing on July 7, instructed the UKPCB to ensure all 49 hotels in Uttarakhand possess legitimate operating permits and adhere strictly to environmental regulations. This order stems from an application filed by Kartik Sharma, highlighting concerns over environmental compliance in the region.

A compliance report is to be submitted by the UKPCB within six weeks, detailing actions taken against the hotels. This report must include the status of environmental compensation proceedings, recovery of imposed fines, resolution of pending cases, and the current CTO status for all establishments. The NGT seeks a clear picture of the enforcement actions and the operational legitimacy of these hotels.

According to a previous Action Taken Report (ATR) by the UKPCB, environmental compensation has been assessed and imposed on 19 hotels for prolonged violations. However, the situation remains complex, with several hotels challenging these compensation orders through appeals, while many others have yet to deposit the required amounts. Only a small fraction have complied with the payment directives. For the remaining 30 hotels, show-cause notices were issued, and environmental compensation has since been imposed on 12. Proceedings against the other 18 are in their final stages, with the Board assuring the tribunal that final orders will be issued within four weeks.

Despite these ongoing processes, the NGT noted during the hearing that the UKPCB could not definitively clarify the CTO status for the 49 hotels. Consequently, the tribunal reiterated its directive for the UKPCB to ensure all hotels operate solely with valid CTOs and in strict compliance with environmental norms. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on September 21.

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..counsel for the UKPCB could not point out the status of the Consent To Operate (CTO) issued to these 49 hotels. Hence, the UKPCB will ensure that these hotels operate only with the due Consent To Operate (CTO) and in compliance with the environmental norms. In view of the above, let a fresh report be filed by the UKPCB within six weeks, keeping in view the observations made above.