More than five decades after the inception of the Chandigarh Golf Club, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) has conspicuously turned a blind eye to the flagrant violation of environmental regulations by the Restaurant at the Chandigarh Golf Club. It was only after receiving a complaint and orders from the Administrator and the Governor of Punjab, Banwari Lal Purohit, that the CPCC sprang into action.
By all accounts, deliberate indifference appears to be ingrained in the mindset of Chandigarh’s bureaucracy, particularly when it involves matters of their lifestyle and entertainment. What is particularly astonishing is that the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee has chosen to overlook the transgressions occurring at the prestigious golf club, which is frequented by the city’s elite.
In a recent development, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee has issued a show-cause notice to the Restaurant located within the Golf Club premises due to its infringement of environmental laws.
In its letter to the General Manager of Chandigarh Golf Club, the CPCC states, “You were running a restaurant without prior Consent to Establish and Operate from Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee under Section 21 of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and under Section 25 of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• You were discharging wastewater into the municipal drain without any treatment system.
• You are using a diesel Generator set of 125 KVA rating which has outlived its life i.e. 15 years (as per the orders of Hon’ble National Green Tribunal).
Whereas u/s 21 of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, u/s 25/26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 it is obligatory to obtain consent to establish before establishing the unit and consent to operate before starting the operation of the unit from Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee but you have failed to do so. Hence you have committed an offence and rendered yourself liable for prosecution by contravening the provisions of Section 21 of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Section 25/26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.”
The Show cause notice further states, “Whereas whoever contravenes the provisions of above said rules be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both and in case the failure or contravention continues, with additional fine which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day during which such failure or contravention continues after the conviction for the first such failure or contravention.
Therefore, CPCC in the exercise of powers conferred under section 33-A of the Water Act; u/s 31-A of the Air Act and u/s Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 proposes to direct you as below:
That you will close your unit forthwith. That you will not run your unit before the permission is granted by the CPCC. The concerned authorities shall disconnect the supply of electricity and water to the unit with immediate effect.
The concerned authorities shall seal the unit with immediate effect.
That environmental compensation shall be imposed on you as per the directions of the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT).
