Anantnag, June 18: In a significant enforcement action in the tourist resort of Pahalgam, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (PCC) has ordered the closure of Hotel Holiday Inn at Movera, Pahalgam, for allegedly operating without mandatory environmental clearances and failing to install prescribed pollution control measures.
The closure order, issued under provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, states that the hotel was functioning without a valid consent from the Pollution Control Committee, a statutory requirement for such establishments.
According to the order, repeated notices were served upon the hotel management, including a show-cause notice issued on September 16, 2025, seeking an explanation as to why legal action should not be initiated for violations of environmental laws. The hotelier, however, failed to respond within the stipulated period.
A fresh inspection conducted by the Divisional Officer of the Pollution Control Committee found that the hotel continued to operate without valid consent and had not installed mandatory pollution-control mechanisms, including an Oil and Grease Trap required for treatment of wastewater generated from kitchen operations. Inspecting officials reported no change in the status of the establishment despite earlier notices and recommendations.
Acting on the findings, the PCC directed proprietor to cease operations forthwith. In one of the strongest provisions of the order, the Executive Engineer of KPDCL’s Electric Division Anantnag has been directed to disconnect electricity supply to the hotel, while the Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department has been instructed to disconnect water supply.
The Deputy Commissioner Anantnag has been tasked with ensuring implementation and compliance of the closure directions, while PCC officials have been asked to coordinate with the concerned departments for execution of the order.
The order also reiterates environmental norms requiring hotels with more than 19 rooms to install Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), while smaller establishments must maintain septic tanks and soakage pits for proper sewage disposal.
The action assumes significance as authorities intensify scrutiny of environmental compliance in Pahalgam, one of Kashmir’s most prominent tourist destinations, amid growing concerns over the ecological impact of unregulated commercial activity. [KNT]
Comments are closed.