NGT-OA-No-400-2017 Order-Date July 08, 2019
02.11.2018
25 Sep, 2019
The National Green Tribunal has directed the AAP government to formulate guidelines for the regulation of banquet halls in the city.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the violation of environment norms is adversely impacting on environment and public health cannot be ignored.
The bench said in a recent order.
“The Delhi government may also have consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board and within a broad framework of pan India Guidelines, Delhi government can have its own guidelines to suit the local requirements to mitigate the adverse impact on environment and public health in the light of the orders already passed by the tribunal,”
The Delhi government told the tribunal that noise regulatory mechanism has been evolved, norms for waste disposal and installation of CCTV cameras and GPS have been laid down, sewage management and air pollution control measures plan.
The tribunal said that the government’s report on illegal banquets and restaurants in Mahipalpur and Rajokri was “not exhaustive”.
NGT was hearing a plea filed by Westend Green Farms Society alleging that banquets and marriage halls in Mahipalpur and Rajokri near IGI Airport were causing vehicular congestion and environment pollution.
23 Dec, 2019
Planning a wedding or a family function in a banquet hall or marriage hall or maybe a farmhouse? Get familiar with the latest guidelines directed by the National Green Tribunal in Westend Green Farms society vs Union of India and others.
Before you make a booking, check whether the marriage hall, farmhouse or banquet hall complies with NGT’s latest orders. Note that NGT has also directed the Central Pollution Board to finalise draft guidelines regarding the same. So, if you are making arrangements for DJ and loudspeakers to be used in the banquet or marriage hall or counting on roadside space for extra parking, think again!
For instance, there are specific guidelines such as follows:
5 Feb, 2021
Conduct of functions must not disturb other citizens right to a peaceful and clean environment, the National Green Tribunal has said while directing all the states and union territories to implement guidelines for control of pollution in marriage and banquet halls.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said apart from the licensing provisions for fire safety, building safety, etc, the regulatory bodies must enforce the environmental norms to ensure that water and air pollution is prevented and the environment is not degraded.
The bench said:
Effluent Treatment Plants needs to be installed by all the big units, not connected to the sewer lines, apart from ensuring compliance of rainwater harvesting systems, adequate safeguards in operating the kitchen need to be adopted, composting facilities, control of noise levels and providing parking space
Without such safeguards, no consent should be given or renewed even in respect of the establishments already set up, the green panel clarified.
The tribunal said that this may be strictly ensured by the state pollution control boards and further overseen by the Central Pollution Control Board by laying down a compensation regime against the violating establishments.
It said the consent conditions must require the owner/manager of establishment informing the organizer/user in writing in advance about the conditions applicable for ensuring compliance.
The bench said:
Conduct of functions must not disturb other citizens right to a peaceful and clean environment. Information as to any particular establishment has been given consent and is compliant or not should be placed on the website of the state pollution control board as well as the establishment concerned for information of the concerned public.
The green body said that placing such information in the public domain will be one of the conditions while granting consent and failure to do so may render the consent granted to any establishment being withdrawn.
The NGT had earlier directed all the states and union territories to enforce guidelines on the regulation of banquets and marriage halls and ensure adequate parking facility, disposal of solid and liquid waste.
The tribunal had earlier said that use of DJ systems must be fitted with noise limiters and data loggers and be operated within soundproof halls within prescribed noise limits without its effect being felt outside.
NGT was hearing a plea filed by Westend Green Farms Society alleging that banquets and marriage halls in Mahipalpur and Rajokri near IGI Airport here were causing vehicular congestion and environmental pollution. It has expanded the scope of the petition.
NGT-OA-No-400-2017Order-Date-04-02-2021
10- Feb, 2021
Conduct of functions must not disturb other citizens right to peaceful and clean environment.
The instant Order was pursuant to the subject of compliance of environmental norms by restaurants/hotels/motels/banquets, etc. in terms of earlier orders of Tribunals.
Vide the Order dated 02-11-2018, Tribunal considered grievance against the violation of environmental norms, including solid waste management, discharge of effluents, illegal ground water extraction, ground water contamination, emission by illegally operating diesel generators, absence of statutory consents under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (‘Water Act’), the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (‘Air Act’) and violation of conditions of consents where such consents are granted, by the restaurants/hotels /motels/banquets in Mahipalpur, Rajokri areas in Delhi. The Tribunal also considered the issue of absence of rainwater harvesting, ground water recharge system, excess noise pollution, illegal parking and encroachments.
Tribunal found violations and directed remedial action.
Mechanism/Guidelines for Control of Pollution and Enforcement of Environment Norms at Individual Establishments and the Area/ Cluster of Restaurants/ Hotels/ Motels/ Banquets etc.:
a) Individual units to provide necessary facilities for control of air, water & noise pollution, solid waste management, etc as enumerated in the previous sections.
b) Individual units to take necessary approvals from the concerned authorities as listed below:
c) Local Authorities to ensure provision of adequate common facilities for water pollution, solid waste management, parking etc
d) The State Board to have robust monitoring mechanism to evaluate compliance with norms of such units atleast twice a year. As per NGT Directions, SPCBs/PCCs are required to submit compliance report to CPCB
Bench stated that the recommendations in the report of the CPCB need to be duly implemented by all the States/UTs by adopting the guidelines for control of pollution in marriage halls, banquet halls, party venues etc. along with consent management system, as already directed.
Further, the Tribunal added that ETPs needs to be installed by all the big units not connected to the sewer lines, apart from ensuring compliance of rainwater harvesting systems, adequate safeguards in operating the kitchen need to be adopted, composting facilities, control of noise levels and providing parking space.
In case the above is not followed, no consent shall be given or renewal even in respect of the establishments already setup.
Bench also expressed that the Consent conditions must require the owner/manager of establishment informing the organizer/user in writing in advance about the conditions applicable for ensuring compliance.