The Kerala Pollution Control Board (PCB) has adopted the ‘Mechanism/ Guidelines for Control of Pollution and Enforcement of Environment Protection Norms at Individual Establishments and the Area/ Cluster of Restaurants/ Hotels/ Motels/ Banquets, etc’ issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
These guidelines were issued in compliance with the Order of the Hon’ble NGT dated 19th September 2019 in the case of Westend Green Farms Society v/s Union of India and Ors. The said Order, inter alia, required the CPCB to formulate guidelines for the regulations of the entities, coercive measures in cases of violation and a monitoring mechanism.
The Guidelines highlight the major environmental issues related to marriage/ banquet halls and party venues. These venues are attributed with the creation of air, water and noise pollution, solid waste problems and public inconveniences due to a lack of adequate infrastructures. These infrastructural limitations include lack of vehicle parking space, proper waste collection and disposal systems, improper storage provisions, etc.
To combat these environmental issues the Guidelines set out several measures some of which are as follows:
Installation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs)
Roadside eateries/ restaurants having a sitting capacity of at least 36 seats must set up ETPs and the tested effluent water from the ETPs should meet the prescribed Environmental Standard.
Effluent discharge norms for hotels
The prescribed Effluent Standards for inland surface water and on land irrigation water in hotels are categorized based on the type of hotel. Hotels for this purpose are categorized into hotels with at least 20 bedrooms in one category. The second category comprises of hotels with less than 20 bedrooms, banquet halls with a floor area of a minimum of 100 sq. mts., or restaurants with a seating capacity of at least 36 seats.
The effluents from the units are also required to comply with the prescribed norms as stated in the guidelines.
Ground Water Extraction
This is permitted only when the necessary permissions are obtained from the concerned authorities. State Pollution Control Boards will take action in cases of unauthorized or illegal ground-water extraction.
Other measures also covered by the guidelines include energy conservation measures, gensets and approved fuels, consent to establish and consent to operate the units, solid waste management measures, noise pollution, infrastructural requirements such as parking facilities, traffic movements, fire safety.
