The Environmental Affairs Department has slapped Crossroads Hotel with a K1 million fine for discharging untreated waste water into the environment.

Director of Environmental Affairs Micheal Makonombera said the move follows the inspection exercise at the hotel’s premises on September 30, 2019.

Makonombera said the inspection was conducted to follow up on wastewater that was flowing along the M1 road reserve.

He said the environmental inspection revealed that the wastewater was coming from a broken sewer pipeline that is supposed to channel the wastewater into the Lilongwe City Council main sewer line.

Makonombera said the broken pipeline resulted into discharging the wastewater to the environment thereby endangering public health and environment.

The department has since ordered the hotel to immediately clean up all wastewater that has polluted the M1 road reserve.

The hotel has also been ordered to submit a comprehensive Environmental Audit of the hotel to the Environmental Affairs Department by October 30, 2019.

The department has warned that failure to comply with the orders will result in stiffer penalties.