Haridwar's Radisson Blu sealed for polluting Ganga

HARIDWAR: In one of the first instances of action against a prominent commercial establishment for allegedly violating pollution norms as laid down by the National Green Tribunal ( NGT), Radisson Blu, a five-star hotel in the city, was sealed by a team of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on Saturday.

"During an inspection in April, it was found that the hotel had not set up its waste water treatment plant and untreated water was flowing into the drains near the hotel and onto the Ganga. Notices were issued to the hotel earlier as well to have its waste water treated but they were not heeded. Therefore, action was initiated to have the property sealed," said Ankur Kansal, regional officer, SPCB, Roorkee unit.

Sources told TOI that the hotel's kitchen and laundry were sealed and the power connection severed. However, guests were allowed to stay till their check-out time so as not to cause them inconvenience. Efforts were made to reach the hotel authorities for their comment but they could not be contacted.

Meanwhile, Vinod Singhal, member secretary, SPCB, said that orders for the hotel's closures were issued almost 10 days back, on the basis of a report submitted to the NGT on May 12, and the NGT was also informed about it.

SPCB has reportedly put hotels in three categories on the basis of the pollution they cause. Those causing maximum pollution are in the red category. These include hotels with three or more stars or with 70 or more rooms. Radisson Blu fell in this category. "All of them have been ordered to install their waste water treatment plants. If they can't do it, they have the option to get connected to the central effluent treatment plant of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. We have made it very clear to them that untreated water flowing into the Ganga will not be tolerated," said Kansal.