9 erring Kasauli home stay units penalised

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 31

The Tourism Department has cancelled the registration of nine tourism units which were registered under the rural Home Stay Scheme in Kasauli for violating norms.

It was known that all nine units had been served notices in July after a survey conducted by tourism officials had found that they were not eligible to obtain benefits of this scheme meant for the local rural youth.

District Tourism Development Officer Yashpal Sharma confirmed that the registration of nine units had been cancelled. He said officials of the HP State Electricity Board would be informed about the action so that power on the concessional rate was not supplied to them.

These units were owned by outsiders who had constructed their premises after obtaining permission under Section 118 of the HP Reforms and Land Tenancy Act, 1972, for housing purpose. But instead, these were being operated as home stay units where concessional rates of power were applicable and no luxury taxes were levied on these.

Officials of the electricity board also rued that several such units were operating in Kasauli in violation of norms as the scheme was meant only for rural areas.They said the units would be brought under the ambit of the commercial tariff.

DC Negi, Additional Commissioner, Excise and Taxation Department (South Zone), said the taxes applicable as per law would be charged from all such units.

The registration of such units which did not qualify for this scheme, has, however, put a question mark on the working of the department as all such facts are supposed to be verified before registration.