The State Forest and Wildlife, Environment and Solid Waste Management and labour Minister Harak Singh Rawat has stated that the hotel and industrial sectors are expected to cooperate with the State Government in effective observance of the environmental pollution guidelines of the supreme court, high court and National Green Tribunal. The minister said this while chairing a meeting on pollution and labour related issues here on Wednesday.
The minister said that hotels and tourism are important in the state’s economy but it is also mandatory for hotels and industrial enterprises to observe the guidelines of the courts and NGT.
To ensure cent per cent observance of the courts’ and NGT guidelines, the minister directed drafting of a proposal by a committee comprising the member secretary of the Uttarakhand Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Board along with two representatives each from the industry and hotel association.
He also said that urban local bodies and Panchayats need to make better arrangement for sewerage treatment within their jurisdictional limits.
While deliberating upon labour related issues, the minister directed to the labour commissioner that considering the greater scope for employment in smaller industrial enterprises, the workers’ limit should be increased to 15 a unit.
The minister also directed that the pace of work execution be stepped up for construction of the approved 100-bed hospital for SIIDCUl industrial estate in Haridwar. The minister was informed that the lease deed had been completed with the funds being approved and executing agency also being chosen for the construction of the said hospital.
Apart from directing timely and quality work for this hospital, the minister also directed that work be stepped up for construction of 100-bed hospital in Dehradun.
Rawat further said that the employees state insurance scheme should be extended bringing labourers in the mountainous regions of the state under the ambit of social security.
The minister appealed to the hotel and industry representatives to not take work under any circumstances from anyone aged under 14 years while also ensuring that the workers were made to work for the fixed eight hours a day.