Panaji: The Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) revised classification of smaller hotels and restaurants has put the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in a difficult position. Under the new norms, hotels and guesthouses with up to 20 rooms and restaurants with seating capacities of up to 100 are classified as white-category industries, instead of green-category industries. The GSPCB has argued that a restaurant with 99 seats cannot be considered a small establishment in Goa.The board has also noted that adopting the new classification would move about 80% of Goa’s hotels and restaurants into the white category, reducing revenue from consent fees, a key source of its income.The GSPCB has written to the CPCB seeking relaxation but has not yet received a response.Under the revised norms, hotels and guesthouses with up to 20 rooms, restaurants and dhabas with seating capacities below 100, and standalone banquet and marriage halls of up to 1,000 sq m have been reclassified from green to white category.At a recent meeting, the GSPCB said Goa’s environmental sensitivity and the need to monitor sewage, effluent treatment systems and pollution-control facilities warranted a review of the classification. It also cited the environment ministry’s November 4, 2009 notification on discharge standards.The board said classification should not be based solely on size or capacity, but should also consider the cumulative impact of multiple hotels, guesthouses and restaurants in a locality, particularly in terms of sewage generation, solid waste, noise and pressure on infrastructure.In its communication to the CPCB, the GSPCB said a restaurant with 99 seats cannot reasonably be treated as a small establishment, especially in densely populated and tourism-intensive coastal areas.The board has also requested that establishments reclassified from green to white category continue to pay fees applicable to the green category, as inspection and monitoring requirements would remain unchanged.It said this would help prevent the revised categorisation from affecting the financial sustainability of state pollution control boards.For now, the GSPCB has decided to continue with its existing classification, under which hotels with up to 20 rooms and restaurants with seating capacities of up to 36 are placed in the white category. Other establishments will continue to pay at least the minimum fee.The board has proposed that restaurants and eateries with seating capacities above 20 and up to 100 should remain in the green category. It has also recommended retaining guesthouses and banquet or marriage halls in the green category..
