Forest and Environment Minister holds meeting with Murthal Dhaba owners
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh –
Haryana Environment, Forest and Wild Life Minister Rao Narbir Singh has called upon dhaba operators along the GT Road, especially in the Murthal area, to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the National Green Tribunal (NGT). He said that the installation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) and Common Treatment Plants (CTP) in all dhabas is mandatory to ensure water conservation and reuse.
The Minister was chairing a meeting with dhaba owners from Murthal, led by MLA, Devender Kadyan. During the meeting, the Minister made it clear that dhaba operators running their establishments without Change of Land Use (CLU) permission must complete all required documentation related to municipal taxes and other statutory charges. Even dhabas with approved CLU must strictly follow all norms laid down by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, failing which action and penalties will be imposed as per rules, he added.
Rao Narbir Singh said that the government does not intend to harm any business. The objective is to protect the environment, conserve water resources, and ensure that all commercial activities operate in an organised and lawful manner. He directed Secretary, Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Sh.Yogesh Kumar to hold discussions with the Board Chairman at the earliest and take necessary steps towards a comprehensive solution.
During the meeting, the Minister was informed that when closure orders are issued against dhabas during inspections by the NGT and other relevant institutions, penalties are calculated based on the period from the date of construction of the dhaba to the date of inspection. Responding to this, the Minister advised dhaba operators to ensure timely compliance with all norms to avoid any action.
He appealed to the dhaba owners to voluntarily adopt environment-friendly measures and cooperate with the government and administration so that the Murthal area can be made clean, safe, and environmentally sustainable.