Dibrugarh: Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC) sealed two prominent business establishments in Dibrugarh town on Saturday for failing to comply with waste management regulations and operating without mandatory pollution control permits.
The sealed establishments — Devika Hotel and Nandan Sweets and Snacks factory at AT Road — were found to be directly disposing of liquid waste into the city's drainage system without proper treatment. DMC executive officer Novas Das, who led the enforcement action, cited serious violations of environmental norms at both locations.
"Nandan Snacks and Sweets Factory has been operating without an effluent treatment plant, which is mandatory for such establishments. Similarly, Devika Hotel's treatment plant has remained non-functional for years, effectively rendering it useless," Das told reporters during the inspection.
The municipal corporation has sealed both establishments for an initial period of three days and issued a seven-day ultimatum to install proper effluent treatment facilities. "Failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe will result in permanent closure and cancellation of their trade licenses," Das warned.
The action comes after both establishments allegedly ignored previous notices from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). More concerning is their operation without the mandatory Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) certificates from the regulatory authority.
The CTE certificate is a prerequisite for establishing any industrial unit or commercial establishment and remains valid for 3-5 years. The CTO, particularly crucial for establishments with high pollution potential, is required after implementing mandatory pollution control systems and can be valid for up to 15 years depending on the industry category.
"CTE and CTO are fundamental requirements for any commercial establishment. We will be conducting more raids throughout the town. All establishments must obtain the necessary CTE and CTO certifications or face similar consequences," Das said.