The authorities on Friday suspended commercial activities in 85 top hotels in the city, and are in the process of disconnecting electricity supply to 108 hotels, for failing to install sewage treatment plants (STPs).
The move has come a day after the state high court pulled up the authorities and the Pollution Control Board for failing to suspend operations of the hotels violating pollution norms.
Following the rap from the court, the authorities on Friday swooped down on major hotels, like Broadway and Jehangir at Srinagar's commercial hub Lal Chowk, and suspended commercial activities and the operations of the housing security forces of some hotels.
After the sealing, officials at the Broadway Hotel pegged a notice which reads, "Hotel has suspended commercial activities till further notice."
The Co-ordination Committee of Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA), Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners' Federation (KHAROF) & Pahalgam Hotel and Restaurant Owners' Association (PHAROA) have condemned the actions of the district administration.
"We have closed down 85 hotels. To implement the court directions to suspend commercial activities of hotels violating pollution norms, the administration sealed hotel kitchens and will snap power supply too. This is the only way to suspend commercial activities," said Srinagar deputy commissioner Farooq Shah.
{{/usCountry}}"We have closed down 85 hotels. To implement the court directions to suspend commercial activities of hotels violating pollution norms, the administration sealed hotel kitchens and will snap power supply too. This is the only way to suspend commercial activities," said Srinagar deputy commissioner Farooq Shah.
{{/usCountry}}On November 18, the state cabinet decided "to approve the proposal for setting up of common sewage treatment plants for the waste water generated by the hotel industry."
On October 23, the high court had allowed hotels in the process of commissioning STPs to operate for a period of one month.
However, on November 20, the high court pulled up the authorities for failing to take action against the hotels which had failed to install STPs in spite of the court orders.