Pahalgam, May 5: Majority of the hotels here are flouting the Environmental Protection Act by pumping sewage into the famous Lidder.
 The work on the common sewerage treatment plant, started three years back, has been going on at snails pace leading to unscientific disposal of wastes.
 According to the Pollution Control Board guidelines, the hotels with more than 20 rooms are entitled to install a sewerage treatment plant and for those less than that, a septic tank to check the unscientific disposal of wastes into the river. “Despite strict guidelines, majority of the hoteliers are not abiding it due to which the solid waste directly pours into the Lidder,” the residents told Greater Kashmir.
 However, the hoteliers say the mandatory installation of STP in every hotel was not feasible as it would require uninterrupted electricity and may pollute the environment too. 
 “Though, the government after taking into consideration our concerns decided to set up a common sewerage treatment plant, but the work on it is going on slowly,” Pahalgam Hoteliers Association President, Javaid Ahmad Burza said. He said due to they were facing problems as the registration of their hotels was not being renewed by the PCB.  
 Regional Director Pollution Control Board, Farooq Geelani said, “As the EPA entitles the hotels to be treated as industries, so they have to ensure scientific disposal of sold and liquid waste or else the PCB is authorized to cancel their registration”. 
 Geelani said some hoteliers in Pahalgam want to install their own STP and they after proper verification should ask the Pahalgam Development Authority to give them permission. He also called for expediting of work on the Common STP.
 Chief Executive Officer, PDA, Waheed Tak said, “The work on the common STP undertaken by the UEED is in full swing and is expected to get completed this year”. Tak, said those intending to install their own STPS and soakage pits were welcome, but only after getting NOCs from the PCB.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 May 2010 00:00:00 IST