Plastic ban: NGT seeks list of ashrams, guesthouses in Haridwar, Rishikesh

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had earlier ordered a complete ban on the use of plastic in Haridwar and surrounding areas, has again taken the Uttarakhand government to task for proliferation of unauthorised industries and hotels operating in the holy town.

“Do you have a list of ashrams and guesthouses? Are they registered? If someone terms them as ashrams and guesthouses, can they be exempted from registration? What is the status of plastic manufacturing units? Are they running without consent? What action have you taken,” a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked officials.

The Bench asked the government and the pollution control board to “file a complete comprehensive list, in consultation with (Nagar) Nigam, of the hotels, ashrams and guesthouses that are running in Haridwar, Rishikesh and upward. Let that list positively be placed on <g data-gr-id="30">record</g> of Tribunal by the next date of hearing on September 28”. Uttarakhand pollution control board told the Bench they had issued ads in newspapers, stating that consent was mandatory for operating plastic manufacturing units.

To this, the Bench said: “The copy of the ads shown to the Tribunal does not show what action the Board would take in the event of default. Let corrigendum thereto be issued immediately and copy thereof be placed on record before the next date of hearing.”  Earlier, the NGT had slammed the government over the non-compliance of its orders relating to the ban on <g data-gr-id="28">use</g> of polythene bags in Haridwar, Rishikesh and surrounding areas.

Taking note of status report filed by local commissioner, the Bench directed the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to submit an affidavit, stating if consent to operate has been granted to the plastic manufacturing units in the state which <g data-gr-id="25">is</g> mentioned in the report. The NGT had in July imposed a ban on <g data-gr-id="24">use</g> of plastic bags in Haridwar and Rishikesh and announced a fine of Rs 5,000 as per the 'polluter pays' principle.