Green rating of hotels in Himachal Pradesh on cards

Tribune News Service

Pratibha Chauhan
Shimla, April 20

To encourage hotels to go in for energy and water conservation and have expansive greenery, the government will start green rating of hotels, which will be voluntary.

The Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB) has prepared the draft to introduce the concept, which is being done across the world.

“The board has prepared an outlay aimed at creating greater awareness towards protecting environment with small measures such as conserving energy and having more greenery on their properties,” says Prabodh Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Finance.

He says the board has been asked to prepare a detailed note so that the concept could be introduced.

Himachal has more than 10,000 hotels, homestays and guesthouses though the number registered with the Tourism Department is only 6,063. It is mandatory for hotels to seek consent from the Environment Department to start operations.

The green hotel concept will include the green rating of hotels on the basis of low water usage through measures such as the use of rainwater harvesting, low flow toilets and showers. It will also involve energy consumption through conservation measures like the use of LED lights and renewable energy sources like solar power.

The concept of green hotels will not be binding on all and they may opt for it. However, the concept is popular abroad. As Himachal is a hill state with some ecologically sensitive areas, the introduction of the concept can help in creating sensitivity towards the environment.

The rating of green or eco hotels will be undertaken by assessing whether a hotel is integrated into the environment without damaging it. Besides, the weightage will be given to the hotels, which help in the sustainable growth of tourism, besides contributing to the progress of the local community.

The pollution board is yet to work out the modalities for rating green hotels, but such hotels are made from sustainable material, having a low carbon footprint.

Low water usage to be basis

• Green rating of hotels will be made on the basis of low water usage through measures like use of rainwater harvesting, low-flow toilets and showers
• It will also involve energy consumption through conservation measures like use of LED lights and solar power
• The concept not to be binding on all hotels
• Green hotels are made of material having low carbon footprint

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