By Bizodisha Bureau, Puri, August 6, 2016 : The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) on Saturday sealed as many as 20 hotels in Odisha’s Puri in the first phase of its drive for violating pollution norms.

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.

Closure notice has been issued to remaining 20 hotels and those will be sealed in the second phase, officials said.

The OSPCB last week had hinted at taking stringent action against these hotels which have been blatantly flouting pollution norms fixed by the watchdog.

These hotels were accused of 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 NGT.