New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal todayset up a committee to inspect over 1700 hotels, lodges andhome stay accommodations in the picturesque Kullu and Manalitowns of Himachal Pradesh.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumarformed the committee comprising senior officers from statetourism department and Himachal state pollution control board,scientists from the Shimla-based Institute of HimalayanStudies, the SDM of Kullu and Manali and a representative fromexcise department.
"The above committee shall start inspection starting fromMonday next week and inspect all the hotels, lodges and homestay accommodations.
"However they will proceed first with such hotels whichhave more than 25 rooms under any category," the bench said.
The green panel directed the panel to conduct jointinspection and submit a comprehensive report relating tosource of water, management of solid waste, sewage treatmentplant, source of power and generation of effluents.
"In the event of any first category hotel, lodge,accommodation found operating without consent from statepollution control board or found to be located in forest area,they shall be ordered to shut down forthwith and deregisteredby all the authorities," the bench said.
The committee will submit the report to the HimachalPradesh government along with the recommendations forprotection of environment and ensure that the area is notexposed to natural disasters like earthquakes, it said.
The order came on a plea filed by Manali resident RameshChand alleging that many hotels were constructed illegally andoperating without permission from the authorities and soughttheir closure. PTI PKS AGARC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.