55 illegal hotels lose power, water supply

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 16

After the High Court order, the district administration of Kangra today snapped water and power connections of 55 illegal hotels in McLeodganj and its surrounding areas.

A team, constituted by the district administration, including officials of the Electricity Department, IPH Department and Revenue Department, reached hotels. Officials did not receive any resistance from hotel owners and executed the court orders.

Most hotels that lost power and water connections were located either on the Jogibara road, Temple road in the heart of McLeodganj or the McLeodganj-Bhagsunag road.

Most of the illegal constructions in McLeodganj and its surrounding areas came up after the Congress government announced its retention policy to regularise 100 per cent deviations from the approved maps. Most hotel owners rushed to add rooms to their existing structures to take the benefit of the policy.

The hotels whose power and water connections have been snapped include Hotel Back Packers Inn, Aboka Guest House, Hotel Hunted Hill House, Sharma Cottage, Tokyo House, Hotel Friend House, Hotel Golden Wings, Hotel Holiday Hill, Hotel Moon Walk Residency, Hotel Ganga House, Hotel Imperial Nine, Hotel President Inn, Holiday Villa Redline 2, Villa Paradiso, Snow Height Apartments, Silver Tree, Bela Heights, Deodar Villa, Hotel Royal India, Norbu House, Hotel Blue Moon, Hotel Blue Inn, Pause Dwelling House, Varuni House, Black Magic Hotel, D-Scausa, Laxmi Holiday Inn, Hotel Stayweel, Lord Krishna Residency, Hotel Nine Chimes, Grand Hill Hotel and Restaurant, Hotel Kumar Residency, Hotel Sapphire and Restaurant, Hotel Vikrant, Hotel Snow Peak, Hotel Asian Plaza, Hotel Greenview, Hotel Hill Heaven, Hotel Sahiba, The Destination Hotel, Zambala House, Hotel Kailash Residency, Hotel Sandhyana House, Hotel The Oak Valley, Hotel Sahil Plaza, Hotel Paradise, Green Glory Hill, Hotel Jungle Hut, Hotel Asian Plaza, Green View Guest house, Hill Town, Pink House, Guru Kirpa and Victoria House.

With so many hotels losing power and water connections, it is going to be tough for the tourists during Christmas . The hotel owners said they had to cancel all bookings for Christmas.

Since 55 hotels have been lost water and power connections, about 1,000 people are likely to lose jobs, sources said.

A section of hoteliers also demanded action against the officials of the MC, Town and Country Planning, Power and IPH officials who allow a large number of illegal hotels to come up and flourish in violation of rules.

Govt policy to blame 

Most illegal constructions in McLeodganj and its surrounding areas came up after the Congress government announced its retention policy to regularise 100 per cent deviations from the approved maps.  

Tourism to be hit  

• It is going to be tough for tourists during Christmas holidays 
• Hotel owners have to cancel all bookings for Christmas