Anomalies found in 11 hotels, notice served

Our Correspondent

KULLU, DECEMBER 14

The committee formed by the district administration following directions of the High Court to check hotels and commercial establishments running without statutory sanctions found anomalies in 11 such establishments after inspecting 15 hotels, restaurants, home stay and lodges in Chhalal and Katagala villages near Kasol in Parbati Valley of this district yesterday.

Kullu District Tourism Development Officer Bhag Chand Negi said that notices had been issued to the operators of the defaulting units who were not able to provide the requisite documents or had encroached upon forest land. He said that report regarding the same had been forwarded to the Kullu SDM, who is chairman of the committee.

After the orders of the high court, the district administration had formed a committee headed by Kullu SDM Sunny Sharma. The committee has officials from forest, IPH, PCB, Tourism, Police and Revenue departments. Earlier, the committee had snapped power and water connections and sealed 42 commercial establishments in Kasol on December 9.

The SDM said that the process to verify the documents of commercial establishments related with tourism industry in the district was being conducted and action would be taken against illegal encroachments and erring establishments.

Meanwhile, those affected with the orders of high court said that some relaxation should be provided in norms for registration of tourism-related establishments due to topography of the area. Infrastructure required to comply with the specified norms was not available in most of the areas.

There were reportedly over 2,500 hotels, lodges, home-stays and other commercial establishments providing accommodation for tourists in this district and the Tourism Department was facing acute shortage of staff to monitor and regulate these establishments.

Another committee set up by National Green Tribunal to inspect over 1,700 hotels, lodges and home stay accommodations in Kullu and Manali was checking documents of over 92 hotels having over 25 rooms in Manali. The green panel has directed the committee to conduct joint inspection and submit a comprehensive report relating to source of water, management of solid waste, sewage treatment plant, source of power and generation of effluents. The NGT bench has directed that in the event of any first category hotel, lodge or accommodation found operating without consent from the state Pollution Control Board or found to be located in forest area, shall be ordered to shut down forthwith and deregistered by all the authorities.

SDM: Will act against  encroachers 

• After the orders of the high court, the district administration had formed a committee headed by Kullu SDM. 
• The committee has officials from forest, IPH, PCB, Tourism, Police and Revenue departments. 
• The SDM said that the process to verify the documents of commercial establishments related with tourism industry in the district was being conducted and action would be taken against illegal encroachments and erring establishments.