Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding floating hotel in Tehri Lake, 10/02/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item titled "Uttarakhand HC License expired why is floating hotel running?" appearing in the Times of India dated 07.01.2024.
The MA was registered on the basis of the report dated June 14, 2024 filed by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in compliance with the NGT order, February 12, 2024. In the OA, registered suo motu based on a news item, the issue under consideration was operation of a floating hotel in Tehri Lake inspite of expiry of license and consequential pollution in river Ganga.
The NGT, February 12, 2024 had directed National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to look into the matter and see if such an activity was permissible under River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 and take appropriate action.
In the report dated June 14, 2024, the NMCG has admitted that the activity of a floating hotel in the midst of lake/water body is regulated under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, but the report does not disclose that NMCG itself has initiated any action.
"If there is no legal impediment and there is no order of any competent court preventing the NMCG to take action in accordance with law in terms of the 2016 order, then the NMCG is required to ensure compliance of the provisions of the 2016 order," the NGT said. Counsel appearing for NMCG sought time to obtain instructions in this regard.
The NGT agreed to the request and the listed the matter for May 1, 2025.