NGT forms high-level committee to inspect over 1700 hotels, stay accommodations in Kullu and Manali

Shimla, December 8: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday set up a high-level committee to strictly inspect over 1,700 hotels, lodges and homestay accommodations in Kullu and Manali towns of Himachal Pradesh.

 

Notably, NGT’s new committee will inspect over 1,700 hotels, lodges and homestay accommodations in Kullu and Manali towns from Monday next week. The order came after a plea was filed by a resident of Manali alleging that many hotels were constructed illegally and operating without permission from the authorities and sought their closure.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar formed the high-level committee that comprises senior officers from state tourism department and Himachal state pollution control board, scientists from the Shimla-based Institute of Himalayan Studies, the SDM of Kullu and Manali and a representative from excise department. The committee will inspect 1700 hotels in Kullu Manali.

The bench said the committee will proceed first with such hotels which have more than 25 rooms under any category. “The committee will submit the report to the Himachal Pradesh government along with the recommendations for protection of the environment and ensure that the area is not exposed to natural disasters like earthquakes,” the bench added.

"In the event of any first category hotel, lodge, accommodation found operating without consent from state pollution control board or found to be located in forest area, they shall be ordered to shut down forthwith and deregistered by all the authorities," the bench concluded.