‘We will take further action after taking legal opinion’, said Vikramaditya Singh on the order to close the hotel.
Shimla, November 21 (IANS). Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh recently said on the High Court’s order to close 18 government hotels that the government will take further action after taking legal opinion on the issue.
Vikramaditya Singh said on Thursday, “We have full respect for the High Court and it is the right of the government to challenge any decision that comes against them in the Supreme Court or double bench. In this matter also, the Tourism Department and the Chief Minister’s team will meet our Advocate General and Law Secretary to obtain legal opinion on this matter and consider further action.
He said, “Even when I was an MLA in the opposition, I had raised this issue seriously in the Assembly. Be it Forest Corporation, Himachal Road Transport Corporation, Himachal Tourism Development Board or any other government boards and corporations, almost all are running in financial losses. This is not a new problem, rather it has been going on for a long time. It is the responsibility of the government to provide financial strength to government institutions and boards and rescue them from losses.”
It is noteworthy that Himachal Pradesh High Court had ordered the closure of 18 loss-making government hotels citing the financial crunch of the state government.
The minister said that there are many complexities in these problems, such as pensions, benefits, and other financial obligations of employees. Cabinet meetings are also held on these issues, in which the government is constantly making efforts to improve these loss-making institutions, make them profitable and make their management financially self-reliant.
“The decision was taken to close the hotels,” he said. It was said in it that the High Court had taken this decision regarding 40 percent occupancy of hotels. The decision revealed that some hotels, such as Chahal Palace (which was the property of the Maharaja of Patiala and is an iconic property in Himachal Pradesh), hold corporate events, weddings and other types of programs only on the basis of occupancy. Not seen. “Such events are an important source of income for these hotels.”
–IANS
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