NGT issues warrant against Lucknow-based 5-star hotel

The National Green Tribunal has issued bailable warrant against a Lucknow-based five-star hotel for its failure to appear before it and not filing reply to a show-cause notice issued to it on a plea relating to illegal extraction of ground water.
"Hotel Clark Awadh is not represented today. It is seen that it has not appeared on earlier posting dates also and has also not even filed any reply. The presence of the hotel is absolutely necessary.
"Consequently, we issue bailable warrant for production of General Manager, Hotel Clark Awadh to be executed by SSP, Lucknow in the sum of Rs 20,000 to the satisfaction of the arresting officer...," a bench headed by Justice M S Nambiar said.

The green panel also issued notice to Moradabad-based Hotel Holiday Regency to show cause why environmental compensation should not be imposed on it for extracting underground water without necessary permission from Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
"It is clear from the admitted facts that the Hotel was functioning and utilising the underground water from the bore-well without the necessary permission from CGWA for all those years... The hotel is directed to show cause within seven days why environmental compensation shall not be imposed," the bench said.
The matter is listed for next hearing on February 12.
The directions came while hearing a plea by an environment activist which had alleged that various hotels in Uttar Pradesh were using groundwater without requisite permission from the authority.