The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UPCB) has struck fresh fines on 49 hotels in Mussoorie for environmental violations, including operating without valid consent. The penalties, ranging from a few lakhs to INR 50 lakh, come after a directive from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to reassess and retroactively apply fines from the date of the violations. Among the affected hotels, 34 were operating without the necessary consent, while 15 failed to renew their permits. Despite previous fines, the UPCB assured that amounts already paid would be deducted from the new penalties. Some hotel owners have questioned the fairness of these additional charges.
The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UPCB) has issued fresh notices to 49 hotels in Mussoorie for operating without valid consent, imposing substantial fines ranging from a few lakhs to INR 50 lakh for various environmental violations. This action follows a directive from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which instructed the UPCB to reassess the penalties imposed on these hotels and to apply fines retroactively, starting from the date the violations first occurred. The move aims to ensure stricter compliance with environmental norms and hold businesses accountable for any breaches.
Parag Madhukar Dhakate, the member secretary of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UPCB), explained that 34 of the 49 hotels were found to be operating without the required consent. This group includes hotels that began operations before December 2019 or those that opened later but failed to secure the necessary approvals from the board. Furthermore, 15 hotels that had previously obtained the necessary consent to operate were penalized for failing to renew their permissions. Dhakate revealed to the Times of India that the total penalty imposed on all 49 hotels has now exceeded INR 8 crore.
Interestingly, many of these hotels had already been fined earlier in the year for similar violations. However, the UPCB has confirmed that the fines previously paid will be deducted from the revised penalties to avoid double penalties for the same breaches. Dhakate clarified that the reassessment of the penalties was a direct consequence of the NGT's orders, which emphasized that fines should reflect the actual date of violation.
Despite this clarification, some hoteliers have expressed confusion and frustration over the new notices. One hotelier, who preferred to remain anonymous, questioned the fairness of the additional fines, pointing out that they had already paid fines earlier in the year for the same violations. The hotelier expressed a sense of bewilderment as to why new penalties were being levied, despite compliance with earlier penalties. The situation has sparked a debate about the consistency and transparency of the enforcement of environmental regulations in the region, with hotel owners seeking clarity on how future violations will be treated.
The latest action by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board highlights the ongoing challenges in enforcing environmental regulations in Mussoorie's hospitality sector. While the reassessment of fines aims to strengthen compliance, it has created uncertainty among hotel owners who feel penalized multiple times for the same violations. This situation underscores the need for clearer communication and consistent enforcement of environmental laws to avoid confusion and ensure fairness. As the debate continues, hoteliers are calling for greater transparency and clarity in how penalties are imposed, hoping for a more balanced approach to regulatory enforcement in the future.
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