Over a dozen five-star hotels have been asked by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to explain why are they not harvesting rainwater and why should action not be taken against them.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar issued show-cause notices to 15 hotels — The Ashok, The Claridges, Hotel Samrat, Jaypee Vasant Continental, Sunair Hotels Ltd, The Lalit, Oberoi Hotel, Park, CHL Ltd (Hotel Crowne Plaza), Jacksons Developers, Hotel JW Marriot, Piccadily Hotel, Divine Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd, Today's Hotel and Lemon Tree & Red Fox Hotel — in connection with the matter.
Besides these hotels, the NGT also issued notices to 28 malls, builders and developers like Shoppers Stop Ltd., Lifestyle Builders Pvt. Ltd., Aditya Infracon Private Limited, etc.
“The 28+15 notices have to show cause as to why they have not constructed rainwater harvesting systems in their respective premises and why action against them in accordance with law be not directed to be taken,” the Tribunal said.
The show cause notices were issued by the NGT after the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) submitted before it that it had issued notices to 67 malls and commercial buildings here.
The DPCC then informed the Tribunal that while most of the noticees had responded, 28 of these and the 15 hotels have not done so.
The NGT has been hearing a petition filed by environment activist Vikrant Tongad concerning various institutions shying away from harvesting rainwater despite Delhi being water-starved.
Initially, he had filed the petition only against the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, saying it had enough space to install rainwater harvesting systems at its stations.
However, during the hearing before the Tribunal, various institutions such as government and private hospitals and now commercial buildings also came under the scanner.
