Action threatened against restaurant, hotel, and marriage hall operators without NOC

Adityapur: The Pollution Control Board is set to take action against restaurant, hotel, and marriage hall operators in Kolhan under the Water and Air Pollution Act for failing to obtain the Environmental No Objection Certificate (NOC). Operators neglecting to secure environmental NOC may face imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Despite three notices from the Pollution Control Board, a strict stance is now being adopted due to the lack of interest in obtaining the Environmental NOC.

The board is compiling a list of individuals who have not acquired the environmental NOC despite receiving three notices. The Regional Officer of the Pollution Control Board, Jitendra Kumar Singh, stated that a fourth notice is being sent to them. Legal action will be initiated against them following this reminder. Despite repeated notices, restaurant, hotel, and marriage hall operators in Kolhan have shown little interest in obtaining the required No Objection Certificate since May 2022.

Expressing disappointment at the lack of response, the Pollution Control Board has decided to take legal action by issuing the fourth and final reminder notice. Jitendra Kumar Singh, the Regional Officer of the Pollution Control Board, mentioned that three notices have already been dispatched to restaurant, hotel, and marriage hall operators in the three districts of Kolhan who have not obtained the No Objection Certificate from the Establishment Committee. The last reminder notice is now being sent to them, providing them with another opportunity. Failure to comply may lead to legal action from January 2024, including fines and recovery measures.

Regional Officer Jitendra Kumar Singh clarified that operators with a 35-seater restaurant and a one-room residential hotel are obligated to obtain a No Objection Certificate from the Establishment Committee of the Pollution Control Board. He noted that awareness about this requirement has been communicated to hotel, restaurant, and marriage hall operators in the three districts of Kolhan since May 2022. However, only 35 operators in Kolhan have acquired the necessary certificate out of an estimated 5000. Reminder notices are now being issued, warning of impending legal action under the Water and Air Pollution Act.

In cases where Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) are not obtained from the establishment committee despite the notices, legal action will be taken. Those found guilty under the Water and Air Pollution Act may face imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh, with the possibility of an extended sentence of up to 7 years in case of non-payment of the fine. Singh emphasized that activities such as generating polluted water, using DG sets, burning stoves, and discarding waste food items fall under the purview of water and air pollution, necessitating the acquisition of a certificate through the Pollution Control Board’s establishment committee.