The Himachal Pradesh High Court hammered down 55 hostility units and hostels which are not registered with Tourism Department and State Pollution Control Board, directing the Electricity and IPH Department to disconnect power and water connections of such establishmenta with immediate effect. Hearing public interest litigation Division bench of Acting Chief Justice Mr Sanjay Karol and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel passed this order yesterday released to media directing the State Government to comply with orders immediately fixing next date of hearing on Dec 19. The Court took suo moto action on Dec 8 2017 on the affidavit filed by Railway Department that MC wastes are being thrown on the UNESCO heritage Kalka Shimla Railway line near Parwanoo decided to registered PIL on the matter directing the State and State Pollution Control board to hammer down defaulters.
Responding to the report filed by Deputy Director Tourism, Dharamshala Ms. Sunayana Sharma, bench observed that atleast 55 establishments need to be shut down forthwith and as such establishments were running without compulsorily registration with Tourism Development and also fail to take consent under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Court directed the Deputy Advocate General Mr Kush Sharma that to communicate the order to the Deputy Commissioner, Dharamshala and Superintendent of Police, Dharamshala, who should ensure the compliance of the order in letter and spirit. It directed the state that water connections of these establishments be disconnected by Municipal Corporation, Dharamshala. The Court directed state to carrying out inspection of all the establishments registered or not and falling within the MC Dharamshala and also the adjoining tourist places such as Mcleodganj and Naddi etc. within a period of three days.
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State pollution control board and Municipal Council Parwanoo told the Court that out of 79 industrial defaulters with respect to the Municipal dues or taxes, 66 defaulters have deposited their outstanding dues and 13 defaulters have yet to pay the same. The Court said that 13 defaulters are concerned the MC Parwanoo and State Pollution Control Board are conspicuously silent as to why no action has been taken against them. However, the counsel for the IPH department informed that court that water connection in relation to 37 defaulters in Parwanoo already stands disconnected. The counsel for state electricity board Mr Vivek Sharma stated that similarly electricity connection of all 37 defaulters or establishments already stands disconnected. The Court ordered Deputy Commissioner, Solan to ensure that arrears of municipal tax or dues which are to be recovered from 13 defaulters within a period of two weeks from today.
About 190 tones of MC Solid waste to be lifted from the Nallah to the Municipal Solid Waste Plant Site and transportation of 300 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste from Parwanoo to Shimla shall commence by tomorrow (16.12.2017) Mr Sanjeev Kuthiala counsel for State pollution control board informed the court. State informed the court that 514 industrial establishments at Parwanoo only 291 establishments stand inspected so far. The Court directed the state pollution control board that it should file the affidavit in the Court stating that how many industries are found to be non-compliant and what action stands taken by the authorities.
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