Green tribunal order has hoteliers on the edge

MC Thakur

Manali, December 11

With the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordering the closure of unauthorised hotels in Manali, members of Manali Hoteliers Association today called an emergency meeting to discuss the issue and chalk out their next move.

An inspection team has been formed by senior officials of the Tourism Department, Pollution Control Board, Excise Department scientist of GB Pant Institute, Manali and Kullu SDMs.

It is learnt that the team, which was to start the inspection of hotels having more than 25 rooms from today, would do it shortly.

SDM, Manali, HR Bairwa said the team would strictly follow the NGT order. The team would inspect the hotels soon and action would be taken on erring hotel owners as per the direction of the green tribunal.

After holding an emergency meeting yesterday, the hoteliers called another meeting today to discuss the issue. Manali Hoteliers Association president Gajender Thakur said they had constituted a committee which would meet the inspection team to gather more information on the matter.

He added that some hoteliers who were in the process of completing the legal formalities should be given some time.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve are nearing and the NGT order is giving the hoteliers sleepless nights. After over five months of a lean tourist season, the hoteliers are expecting a good tourist footfall after December 20. But with officials inspecting all big hotels, even those who have fulfilled all norms are worried.

Meanwhile, the hotelier association here has asked its members to submit copies of the tourism registration, NOCs from TCP Department and Pollution Control Board, GST registration, receipt of fee paid for garbage collection and its disposal with the office of the association.

Sleepless nights 

• Christmas and New Year's Eve are nearing and the NGT order is giving the hoteliers sleepless nights. 
• After over five months of a lean tourist season, the hoteliers are expecting a good tourist footfall after December 20. 
• But with officials inspecting all big hotels, even those who have fulfilled all norms are worried.