The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued a warning to the hotels in the state which are without sewage treatment plants (STPs) but are operating 19 rooms. The court, in its orders made available today, observed that the permission to the hotels in A-category to operate 19 rooms was granted owing to a heavy rush and tourist booking, which may have to be withdrawn. The orders were passed by a Division Bench of the court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Hasnain Masoodi, in a PIL calling for preservation of the eco-sensitive areas of Gulmarg and Tangmarg. “The status report (by the Pollution Control Board) also talks about the consent accorded by the J&K PCB in Kashmir and Jammu divisions. The places which have been covered are Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar, Sonamarg, Patnitop, Katra, Jammu, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar,” the Bench said in its orders while referring to the consents given by the hotel owners to install STPs as envisaged under the pollution control norms. “There are hotels which are running without the consent and the STPs. Then there are hotels which are multi-storied that have been permitted to operate only in respect of 19 rooms in pursuance to the concession given by this court vide order dated 24/12/2012,” the court said while referring to the concession given to the hotels without the STPs, which were allowed to operate only 19 rooms to cater to the heavy rush of tourists. “The aforesaid order apparently was passed to surmount the situation of tourist rush and heavy booking in hotels. It did not, however, mean that the hotels are not required to install the STPs,” the court said while showing its displeasure with the hotels taking the concession for granted. “We wish to clarify that the aforesaid order was passed to give respite to such hotels and it may not last for all times to come. In other words, such an order may have to be withdrawn,” the High Court said in its orders while warning that the concession to operate 19 rooms by these hotels may be withdrawn by the court. On being informed and assured by Advocate General M Ishaq Qadri that unfinished work (on installation of STPs by hotels) shall be completed before the next hearing, the High court observed: “In other words, where the consent has not been obtained or the STP has not been installed or there is any other violation of law, the hotel violating the provisions of law and the orders of this court would be suitably dealt with by sealing the same so that their commercial operation is effectively suspended.” The court has further directed the respondents, including the PCB authorities, to file a status report in respect of the items within two weeks.