By Bizodisha Correspondent, Puri, August 27, 2016 : The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) on Saturday sealed some 16 hotels in Puri in the second phase for violating pollution norms. Earlier on August 6, it had sealed 20 hotels in Puri in the first phase.

The district administration in the presence of the Regional Director of the Board closed identified hotels.Earlier, the OSPCB had earlier served closure notice to a total of 40 hotels in the holy city for not having ‘Consent to Operate’ license.

The ‘consent to operate’ clearance is granted by the OSPCB after verification of sanitation standards maintained by the concerned hotels.

Three teams formed by the pollution control board sealed the hotels located at Chakratirtha Road and along the beach.

The authorities had served the closure notice on Thursday asking them to vacate the hotels by Friday evening.

A total of 40 hotels in Puri were served closure notices.

These hotels have been blatantly flouting pollution norms fixed by the watchdog and they were operating without setting up their own water treatment plant and discharging the waste water into the sea. However, these hotels previously had obtained a stay order from the Orissa High Court in the matter.

Earlier on July 24, the OSPCB had issued closure notice to 10 hotels operating along the Puri sea coast following orders from National Green Tribunal [NGT].