Vipin Singh Parmar slams Himachal Government move to give hotels to private parties

Former Vidhan Sabha Speaker and incumbent Sullah MLA Vipin Singh Parmar has accused the Congress government of “selling the heritage of Himachal Pradesh on the pretext of tackling an economic crisis”.

Parmar was referring to the recent decision of the state government to hand over 14 hotels and cafes of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) to private entities under the operation and maintenance model.

He alleged that after plunging the state into a debt burden of Rs 1 lakh crore, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government was now attempting to offload public assets instead of exploring avenues to revive them. “These hotels are not just commercial properties; they are cultural landmarks that hold historical significance for both local people and tourists. Selling them is not only illogical but also a betrayal of public trust,” he added.

Parmar said that the state government had earlier assured the Himachal Pradesh High Court that it would take steps to revive 18 loss-making HPTDC hotels. “Despite making assurances, no sincere effort was made to revive these properties. And now, 14 of these properties are being handed over to private parties,” he alleged.

Parmar also questioned the government’s claims regarding financial losses. “The Chief Minister had said that during the HPTDC meeting on May 1 that the tourism corporation had crossed Rs 100 crore in turnover. If that is true, how can the HPTDC hotels be loss-making?” he asked.

He expressed concern over the fate of hundreds of regular and contractual employees and said that the decision had triggered widespread panic among them. “Many employees fear they will lose jobs and their future is uncertain,” he added.

Parmar said that such measures raise serious questions about the government’s commitment to preserving the state’s tourism legacy.