Shimla, June 1: The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has prepared a list of 39 hotels having 72 water connections, which have pending water arrears amounting to more than Rs 2 crore till March 31.
The High Court had on Wednesday directed the SMC to disconnect water supply to those defaulters who are yet to clear the arrears. Notices were issued before March 31, but barring a few most hotel owners did not bother to pay heed.
According to the MC norms, a hotel can get a maximum of three connections. However, many hotels have four to five connections.
An MC official said no norms were being followed and no connection had been disconnected so far despite pending arrears piling up.
Hotel Capital, having five connections, and Hotel British Resort, having four connections, have failed to foot water bills despite notices by the MC. The total amount due from Hotel British Resort with four connections is Rs 13,62, 960 lakh since 2010 and 2013.
Similarly, Hotel Capital has arrears of Rs 75,762 from April 2017 to December 2017. Hotel Moti Mahal has arrears of Rs 2,15, 799 for two connections, pending since November 2015 to December 2017. Some of these hotels have made an “arrangement” with the SMC that they be allowed to pay it in instalments.
Some residents complained that while there is no shortage of water in hotels right next to their houses, they are given supply after days.
“The hoteliers get an ample supply, to the extent that their tanks overflow. However, we are made to wait for days together,” said Rajneesh Mehrotra, a local resident.
There are a total of 268 registered hotels. The hotel industry has been crying hoarse about lack of infrastructure, including inadequate water supply.
“I agree that it is the responsibility of the hotel owners to foot the water bills, but in some cases there are discrepancies. Moreover, the SMC send the bills for eight-nine months just before the closing on March 31 every year, which is wrong. They should send monthly bills,” said MK Seth, president of the Tourism Industry Stakeholders’ Association.
Sourced from The Tribune
