The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday (August 16) set several conditions on hotels and even penalized those which did not adhere to solid waste management rules. This has become a major issue and the green regulator is strictly monitoring the situation.

On Wednesday, the NGT ruled that sewage treatment plants (STPs) and anti-pollution devices must be installed by hotels within two weeks and the hotels must ensure that STPs function unhindered on a regular basis.

Several hotels were also slapped fines for flouting rules and procedures related to waste management. For example, Taj Hotel was asked to pay Rs 7 lakh, Ginger Hotel was instructed to pay Rs 5 lakh, Crown Plaza will have to shell out Rs 4.5 lakh, Lalit Hotel Rs 5 lakh, and Holiday Inn Rs 3 lakh, among others.

Other related issues will be taken up by NGT on Thursday (August 17).

—India Legal Bureau