Gangtok, Oct 26 The Sikkim State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has announced a one-time window until March 31, 2027, for hotels, restaurants, guest houses, lodges and similar establishments operating without mandatory statutory consent to regularise their operations.
In a public notice, the board directed such establishments to obtain the applicable Consent to Establish or Consent to Operate within the stipulated deadline to avoid legal and regulatory action.
The special window aims to give existing establishments an opportunity to comply with environmental laws by submitting prescribed applications, documents and fees, along with payment of past dues for a specified period, officials said.
Under the scheme, applicable past dues will be limited to the preceding two or three years, depending on the category and individual case, as determined by the board. Establishments will not be required to pay dues for their entire period of operation, subject to verification and assessment, they said.
The board clarified that the concession was a one-time regulatory opportunity and did not amount to condonation of violations or waiver of environmental standards and other regulatory requirements.
Beneficiaries must comply with applicable environmental norms and safeguards and furnish the information, records and undertakings required to process their applications.
“Failure to complete the prescribed process of regularisation and obtain the requisite consent/permission on or before 31 March 2027 shall render the establishment liable to appropriate legal and regulatory action under the applicable environmental laws, rules and regulations, without any further notice in this regard,” it warned.
(PTI News)
