Chennai: Hoteliers, bogged down by various issues including categorisation of hotels under Red, Orange, and Green by Central Pollution Control Board, have pitched their hopes on the Narendra Modi government to remove the stumbling blocks and ensure smooth functioning of the hotels.
Sustainable development should be construed as a journey but not a goal, it is pointed out. While congratulating the Union Tourism Ministry for its Paryatan Parv and ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, tourism for all, initiatives Garish Oberoi, President, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), urged the government to give due thrust and boost to tourism and hospitality by reviewing the GST slab of 28 per cent and reducing it further.
“Our role as an association is to address the concerns of the industry and the guest in the most effective manner by bridging the gap between the policymakers and consumers, thereby developing a well-balanced ecosystem,” he said.
“Despite making many efforts such as zero discharge, waste water treatment through recycling and reuse, rainwater harvesting and several other measures, the sector is being penalised with a handsome amount of Sewerage Charge. The sector is also facing undue hurdles in smooth functioning due to categorisation of hotels under Red, Orange, and Green by Central Pollution Control Board, even though most hotels are connected to a municipal sewerage system and considered as ‘permitted commercial activity’ in most zones of a city as per their respective master plans”, said Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, Secretary, FHRAI.
He said his association would take up the matter with MoEF, including CPCB, to review the categorisation of hotels and rules relating to environmental clearances. “I would reiterate here that for the hospitality sector, sustainable development is a journey and not a goal”, Jaiswal added.
