Illegal Kasol hotels face action tomorrow

Abhinav Vashisht

KULLU, DECEMBER 4

The administration will carry out inspection of 50 more commercial establishments in the 4th and final phase of sealing drive of illegal establishments as per the orders of the High Court in and around Kasol in the Manikaran valley of this district on December 6.

Kullu SDM Amit Guleria said that inspection of commercial establishments in Tulga, Pulga, Kalga, Suma Ropa, Grahan and Tosh areas would be carried out as per the orders of the High Court.

The administration had already sealed over 106 commercial establishments in the three phases of sealing drive against illegal establishments. Now the administration has prepared a list of 50 more commercial establishments. The SDM said these cases were not of encroachment on forest or government land and only registration documents of various departments would be checked. He added that erring establishments would be sealed till they complete the necessary formalities.

The High Court had ordered sealing of 40 hotels, guest houses, home stays, dhabas in the first phase. In the second phase on June 26, as many as 48 business establishments were sealed following the High Court orders. Out of these 11 hotel owners had completed the formalities and one guest house had been closed. In the 3rd phase, the administration sealed 30 more commercial establishments after inspecting 62 of them on September 20.

The district administration had submitted the report of inspection of various hotels and commercial establishments to the High Court in four phases after which the High Court ordered shutdown of illegal establishments. Some of the establishments lacked necessary registration documents with tourism and other departments, while others were totally or partially encroached on forest or government land.

The SDM said that teams comprising officials from Tourism, Revenue, Forest, Electricity, the State Pollution Control Board and Town and Country Planning departments will carry out the sealing drive in Kasol, Manikaran and Tosh. He said that the administration had taken necessary precautions to avert any untoward incident during the sealing drive.

The SDM said as per the directions of the High Court, demarcation would be done again after razing the illegal portions. He said that the commercial establishments, which complete all formalities, would be reopened.

Acting on the directions of the High Court, 106 commercial establishments were sealed in Manikaran valley. Some of them have been restored. The High Court has issued orders that those establishments, whose formalities are fulfilled, would be reopened.

106 sealed so far after HC order

• The administration had already sealed over 106 commercial establishments in the three phases of sealing drive against illegal establishments.
• The High Court had ordered sealing of 40 hotels, guest houses, homestays and dhabas in the first phase.
• In the second phase on June 26, as many as 48 business establishments were sealed following the High Court orders.
• Out of these, 11 hotel owners had completed the formalities while one guest house had been closed. 
• In the 3rd phase, the administration sealed 30 more commercial establishments after inspecting 62 of them on September 20.