Puri: The Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) Friday served notices on the owners of 10 hotels asking them to pay `1 lakh penalty each for running hotels without its permission. The pollution watchdog has directed to collect the penalty amount in 15 days, said OSPCB regional officer Hadibandhu Panigrahi. According to the Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act of 1974, the hotelier should seek consent to establish from OSPCB. Similarly, after construction of the hotel the hotelier should seek consent to operate permission from the board. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the pollution board to initiate action and collect penalties from those hoteliers who had not taken the consent to establish and consent to operate certificates and those who had not renewed their licences till August 6, 2015.
PNN