KL Report
SRINAGAR
Authorities on Friday, sealed many hotels in Srinagar city including well known Broadway and Jahangir, for not following the standard procedures of Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) set by the concerned department.
Pertinently, the state High Court has already taken strong note of flouting of norms by some hotels in Gulamarg and Pahalgam, following which a number of hotels were sealed in both the tourist spots.
Sources said that a team headed by Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, Assistant Commissioner Srinagar along with the officials of Pollution Control Board and other concerned departments had surprise visits to many hotels of the city and enquired about STPs.
The team immediately sealed hotel New Mamta, Atheena, Broadway, Jehangir etc for not following the standard procedures of sewerage.
The team of authorities was accompanied by police officials as well to deal with any resistance from the hoteliers.
Just after getting sealed, Boadway hotel hanged a small notice on the entrance reading “Hotel has suspended commercial activities till further notice.”
Sources said that authorities have listed 108 hotels situated in Srinagar city and the tourist resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam, who are not following the standard procedures of sewerage and all these hotels are to be sealed in coming days.
Pertinently, the Government recently approved the proposal for setting up a common sewerage treatment plant for the waste generated by the hotel industry in Kashmir. Moreover the State High Court also has passed orders in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Co-ordination Committee of Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA), Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) & Pahalgam Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association (PHAROA) have strongly condemned the action of District administration Srinagar, and ordering the disconnection of power supply of 108 hotels of Srinagar. A statement said that this action has been taken on the directive of Chairman State Pollution Control Board.
