After HC rap, tourist hotspot deserted, over 300 lose jobs

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Kullu, December 10

After the High Court rap, the famous tourist hotspot Kasol in Kullu district, which received a number of tourists, wore a deserted look today.

On the directions of the High Court, the district administration yesterday sealed 42 illegal hotels, home stay accommodations, restaurants and dhabas and snapped their power and water supply.

With the closure of illegal establishments, over 300 persons, who were doing jobs in such establishments, lost their livelihood.

Local businessmen rued that it would have long-lasting impact on their business if the state government failed to revive the tourism here. They said the authorities should take steps to improve the tourism sector, which could generate job opportunities for the people.

However, hoteliers are hopeful that they will get some relief from the court because the commercial establishments are constructed on private land.

Now, trouble looms large for the erring hoteliers of other towns in Kullu district after the High Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) are ready to take action against them.

The NGT has set up a committee to inspect over 1,700 hotels, lodges and home stay accommodations in Kullu-Manali, which will start inspection on Monday to find out any irregularities.

After the directions of the NGT, hoteliers are worried about their business because they have faced the losses following its orders against the heavy influx of tourists in Rohtang Pass, which directly hit the livelihood of the locals in the district.

Anup Thakur, former president of Hoteliers Association Kullu-Manali, told The Tribune, “In 2013, we had raised the issue with the state government for one-time settlement and the government passed the ordinance for it. Now the matter is sub judice with the High Court.”

Trouble looms for erring hoteliers in Kullu-Manali

• Hoteliers are hopeful that they will get some relief from the High Court because their establishments are constructed on private land, not on forest land
• The National Green Tribunal has set up a committee to inspect over 1,700 hotels, lodges and home stays in Kullu-Manali, which will start inspection on Monday.
• There were certain complaints that many hotels were running without having valid papers from the pollution board and Town and Country Planning Department