HRANI LEADS TO CONVERT ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN TO OPPORTUNITY

In the wake of a series of orders of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi and directions of Delhi Pollution Control Committee to several Hotels and Restaurants to close down for their failure to comply with various Environmental requirements, HRANI serving as vibrant interface between the Government, statutory authorities, media and the hospitality industry in northern region organised a Seminar on March 10, 2014 at Hall no - 8, Pragati Maidan on the first day of AAHAR fair to educate the members on environmental requirements and various technological options available for them to convert environmental challenges in to an opportunity.

Mr. Anand Kumar, Joint Secretary, Tourism was the Chief Guest & Mr. P.K. Gupta Sr. Environment Engineer, Scientist “D”, Central Pollution Control Board, MoEF, Govt. of India was the Guest of Honour. This event was graced by multiple stakeholders including senior hoteliers & restaurateurs, Govt. Officials, legal experts & independent consultants.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest has responsibility of fixing suitable minimum environmental standards based on viability studies and state governments have to implement these or stricter standards based on local recipient body quality parameters through state pollution control boards.

Observations on the Report of the high-level committee constituted by Hon'ble National Green Tribunal to frame guidelines on pollution control, applicable to hotels and restaurants in the NCT of Delhi, have been submitted to NGT by HRANI in which it has been pointed out that Hospitality sector is being penalised for their proactive environmental initiatives. Delhi Jal Board continues to levy sewage treatment charges although entire waste water is being fully threated by most of the starred hotels in Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Garish Oberoi said that we firmly believe that it is imperative that the far-reaching regulatory measures and enforcement mechanisms which are currently being contemplated should also adequately take into account, our industry's genuine concerns on aspects like the steep consent fee levied by the DPCC and its retrospective imposition as well as technical limitations encountered by some establishments in complying with certain mandatory requirements such as installation of ETP/STP etc.

• Environmental compliance is not a money making activity of state pollution control boards and ministry should examine exorbitant consent fee being charged by Delhi Pollution Control Committee and consent fee should commensurate with environmental concerns rather than adhoc land price based system.
• The standards for hotels and restaurants need to be rationalised keeping in view commercial nature of the activity with suitable exemptions for small players. A suitable research based case may be made out to examine it before any amendments in the standards.
• MoEF to ensure use of money for environmentally sound trade practices through suitable incentives and subsidies rather than punitive mechanism that hampers growth of the sector.
• All state Governments to facilitate simplification of licensing process through single window clearance and to resolve sequencing of various Clearances/consent/licences required by hotels and restaurants.

During the Seminar, Mr. Anand Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism assured that the concerns of HRANI members and hospitality fraternity would be facilitated by MoT to place their vies on viable technological options before MoEF for appropriate action.

The Seminar was addressed by Professionals: Mr. I.K. Kapila, M.Tech(Env. Engg.) L.LB, Mr. D.P. Singh, Former Chief Engineer, UP Jal Nigam Ltd having more than 100 years of collective experience in the field of waste water and pollution control.