Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Rajeev Raj Bhalla Vs State of Uttarakhand & Others dated 25/06/2020 regarding Home Stays in Uttarakhand violating environmental norms.

The applicant - Rajeev Raj Bhalla stated that that the ‘Home Stay’ Policy is a different name for ‘Guest Houses’ without any regulatory mechanism for giving effect to environmental norms including requirement of No Objection Certificate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, installing Effluent Treatment Plant/Sewage Treatment Plant, structural and fire safety norms.

Report filed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) and the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) informed the Tribunal that that the activity would not result in any environmental degradation as registration under the ‘Home Stay’ plan will be after due inspection and verifying availability of waste management systems.

The NGT directed that all due safeguards be implemented with regard to waste disposal, including plastic, garbage and sewage disposal in execution of the policy.

Note: Action taken report on home stay's in Uttarakhand, 19/12/2019