Kochi: The local self governing institutions have issued licences to 80 per cent of restaurants across Kerala without obtaining approval of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board. 

According to the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the restaurants and auditoriums shall operate only after securing the approval of the Pollution Control Board in the state. 

As the lapse in scientific waste water treatment can also lead to food poisoning, the licence for the restaurants shall be only issued after ensuring the restaurants have set up waste water treatment plants on the premises. 

The Pollution Control Board issues approval for restaurants for a period of 5 years, after which the certificate has to be renewed. For small restaurants, the fee for obtaining the certificate is from Rs 4000 to Rs 5000. At least 5 lakh hotels are operating in Kerala currently. The government suffers a loss of nearly Rs 150 crore as the restaurants avoid obtaining the certificates from the Pollution Control Board. 

Though the local self government institutions direct the restaurant owners to obtain the certificate of Pollution Control Board after issuing the licence, the licencees do not follow this once the licence is obtained.