Continuing with its tough stand against the unregistered commercial establishments working as hotels, lodges or guest houses in Dharamshala and Parwanoo, High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday directed the State to disconnect the water and power connections of such establishments.
As per the orders of the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, 26 hotels in Dharamshala and 9 in Parwanoo face immediate disconnection of power and water supply.
The orders came on a Public Interest litigation, initiated by the High Court suo-motu on an affidavit filed by Railway Department in another matter, complaining against the dumping of MC waste beside Kalka-Shimla railway line near Parwanoo, an UNESCO declared heritage site.
Taking serious note of the matter, the High Court on December 15 had ordered immediate disconnection of 55 hospitality units, which were not registered with Tourism Department and State Pollution Control Board.
During the resumed hearing of the matter, the Deputy Director, Tourism informed that 26 more units in Dharamshala have been found to have not registered under the relevant provisions.
As per the affidavit of Ajit Kumar, Senior Environmental Engineer, H.P. State Pollution Control Board, 419 establishments in Parwanoo have been inspected so far. In addition to 28 establishments earlier found violating the norms, 9 more establishments have been found to be in violation of the environmental laws. The disconnection of power and water has also been recommended.
Directing the Director, Tourism to remain present in the court on the next date of hearing, the High Court directed him to file affidavit stating the mechanism, if any, in place from which public can gather information of number and places of authorized hotels/tourism units/home stays registered with the Department.
The court said that if there is such a website, it should be updated before the next date. Allowing time to the commercial establishments in hospitality sector in other areas to comply with the provisions, the High Court has also said that the Pollution Control Board and the Department of Tourism shall issue public notice informing the general public about the existence of the laws and the requirement, necessity, relevance and significance of complying with the same.
“Also, in this regard representatives of the establishments, more so, Presidents and General Secretaries of various associations be associated. Perhaps, before any further stringent action is taken against other defaulters, in other parts of the State, reasonable time be given to them for complying with the statutory provisions. In the notice, it be clarified that against such of those units which are not compliant with the statutory laws, action shall be taken for disconnection of supply of water and electricity supply” observed the Bench.