Member Secretary J&K State Pollution Control Board, Arun Kumar Tickoo (IFS), along with Director Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah, held a meeting with the entrepreneurs of hotel industry at the SPCB Regional Directorate Rajbagh.

Regional Director SPCB, Kashmir, SFA Gillani, apprised the meeting about the steps taken for issuing consent to the hotels under Environment Protection Act, Air and Water Acts and in the light of directions of High Court besides the consent status of various hotels.

Various issues relating to the industry were discussed in the meeting and threadbare deliberations were held on the problems faced by the industry. After listening to the hotel owners, Member Secretary J&K SPCB assured them that speedy disposal of their cases would be ensured and their genuine demands would be taken care of.

Besides, he said, the consent mechanism for the hotel industry would be made simplistic for speedy registration of hotels with the Tourism Department.

He said matter will be taken up with various agencies like UEED, SMC and local bodies for construction of STPs at various places at the earliest.

Deputy Director Tourism, Registration, and District Officers of the Board were also present in the meeting.

The hotel owners were represented by Mushtaq Ahmad Burza, Sirajuddin, Javed Ahmad Burza and others.

Earlier during the day, Arun Kumar held a detailed review meeting of the Board in which various issues were discussed.