…slaps notices on 13 hotels

PANJIM, MAY 21
The Goa State Pollution Control Board has issued show-cause notices to 13 hotels in Colva for violating the Hazardous Waste Rules and Air and Water Acts.
Chairman GSPCB Simon de Souza said three teams of the Board had carried out inspections of several eateries, hotels, restaurants and shacks on May 3 and 4 and these show-cause notices issued yesterday, May 20, were a result of the same.
He said some of the 13 hotels were found to be operating without sewerage treatment plants while some had the STPs, but the same were non-functional. A few of these were found operating generator sets without authorisation of the Board, he stated.
De Souza said during the inspection some of these hotels were caught releasing their waste in the Colva Creek and fields nearby. DG sets were being operated without obtaining the necessary air consent and emission reports were not prepared as required by the Board, he stated.
The GSPCB Chairman said the show-cause notices have been served through the Colva Police Station. “The hotels have been given 15 days time to meet the requirements under the Hazardous Waste Rules and Air and Water Acts. After 15 days inspections will be carried out again and if there is no compliance from any of the 13 hotels then we will move for closure of these establishments,” he warned.  
He informed 13 of the hotels were slapped with notices for flouting the Air and Water Acts and six among these were also found to be operating in contravention of the Hazardous Waste Rules.  
The six hotels that were issued show-cause notices under the Hazardous Waste Rules for operating DG sets by violating Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act are: Hotel Bollywood, Vailankani Cottages, Colmar Beach Resort, Soul Vacation, Pearl Oceanique and Colva Residency of Goa Tourism and Development Corporation.         
The 13 which were caught violating Air and Water Acts are: Colva Residency (GTDC), Star Beach Resort, Pearl Oceanique, Soul Vacation, Hotel Bollywood, Colmar Beach Resort, Hotel Lucky Star, Colva Beach Resort, Longinhos Resort, Graciano Cottages, Vincy Beach Resort and Sea Coin.