Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 2:

The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) today served closure notice to 20 hotels in Puri, five in Balasore and another five in Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts since these lacked ‘consent to operate’ clearance from the state pollution watchdog.

The ‘consent to operate’ clearance is granted by the OSPCB after verification of sanitation standards maintained by the concerned hotels.

The OSPCB has hinted at taking stringent action against these hotels which have been blatantly flouting pollution norms fixed by the watchdog.

“We have served closure notice to 20 hotels in Puri alone. We have sought assistance of the district administration and the police to ensure closure of these hotels. Since these hotels do not have ‘consent to operate’ we have served closure notices on them,” said Hadibandhu Panigrahi, a senior official of the OSPCB.

Notably, the OSPCB earlier on July 24 issued closure notice to 10 hotels operating along the Puri sea coast following orders from National Green tribunal (NGT).

According to reports, these hotels were allegedly operating without setting up their own water treatment plant. Besides, they are allegedly discharging the waste water into the sea.

Closure notices were served to these hotels previously and the owners had obtained a stay order from the Orissa High Court in the matter.

The OSPCB issued fresh closure notices to the hotels after completion of the stay period on Friday to effect action within two days.