Two hotels in Kasauli, in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, had been ordered by the National Green Tribunal to demolish all illegal floors as well as pay fines for disobeying all norms and manipulating the HP Pollution Control Board (HPPCB) to get untenable permits.

The Narayani Guest House was asked to pay Rs 7 lakh as fine while the Bird’s View Hotel was asked to shell out Rs 5 lakh as fine.

The petitioners approached the Supreme Court, challenging the NGT order of May 30.

An inspection team went to Narayani Guest House and found that the owner had constructed a six-storey building, against a three-storey plus parking floor approval. The HPPCB had taken no action for this violation.

At the Bird’s View Hotel, the team found a three-storey frame structure adjoining the existing building, constructed without prior approval from the Town and Country Planner.

On June 16, before the Supreme Court bench of Justices RK Agrawal and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, the petitioners said they had already applied for clearances from the government. This application is pending.

The Supreme Court issued notice.

—India Legal  Bureau