Action taken report on home stay's in Uttarakhand, 19/12/2019
Action taken report by the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board in Original Application No. 1004 of 2019 in compliance of National Green Tribunal order of November 4, 2019 in the matter of Rajeev Raj Bhalla Vs State of Uttarakhand. A joint committee was formed by Member Secretary of Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, Dehradun and committee meeting was held on December 5, 2019 and December 19, 2019 in presence of representative of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board Garhi Cantt, Dehradun and representative of Central Pollution Control Board.
The report mentions that the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Dehradun had made a policy for establishment of Home Stay which is known as Home Stay Rule 2015. The main aim of Home Stay Policy was to check migration from hilly area and provide the employment to local residents and to familiarise tourists with local culture. Further, the residents can register up to maximum six number of rooms of their residence in Home Stay plan and the activity in Home Stay Policy has to be kept non-commercial. The District Registration and Search Committee has been formed under District Tourism Officer for registration under 'Home Stay' plan, which after due inspection and considering the eligibility criteria seeks approval from concering District Magistrate.
The Registration Committee would also verify domestic effluent treatment provision and solid waste management in the Home Stay. The committee member visited a Home Stay site and found six number of rooms are established, where domestic effluent was being discharged in sewer line biodegradable waste was being disposed through composting pit in the premises and non-biodegradable waste was disposed through Nagar Nigam. In non-urban areas, effluent was treated through septic tank and soak pit.
The committee found that maximum domestic effluent discharge would be 1.0 KLD for six rooms, the septic tank and soak pit would be sufficient disposal for domestic effluent. The solid (biodegradable) waste would be disposed through composting pit and non-biodegradable would be recycled. All the safeguard for environment protection of Home Stay was being verified by concerned District Tourist Officer before registration. The report noted that additional regulatory mechanism does not appear to be needed.
Note: Report uploaded to the NGT site on June 23, 2020