Mysuru hotel owner threatens to take legal action for non-clearance of Rs 80 lakh bill for PM’s stay
Mysuru: The owner of the hotel where Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed during his visit to the city to inaugurate the 50th anniversary celebrations of ‘Project Tiger’ in April 2023 has alleged that bills amounting to Rs 80.6 lakh are yet to be cleared and has warned of approaching concerned authorities to take legal action in the matter.
The Karnataka Forest Department, which was directed to hold a three-day event in April 2023 at an expenditure of Rs 3 crore, was assured that it would receive 100 per cent assistance from the Centre. The program was held as per the directions of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF), with the expenditure hiking to Rs 6.33 crore, reports The Hindu.
The initial estimated amount of Rs 3 crore for the event was released by the Central government, but the bill for the extra Rs 3.33 crore is pending for clearance in spite of the Forest Department bringing it to the notice of the MoEF.
Also, the correspondence between the NTCA and the MoEF shows that the event cost increased from the original Rs 3 crore due to the addition of activities during the event, as directed by the NTCA and as per the requirements of the PM’s program. The event management company, as a result, submitted a revised quotation that was circulated among all officials during a video conference.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) of Karnataka wrote to Deputy Inspector-General of the NTCA in New Delhi on September 29, 2023 reminding him of the dues. The NTCA, however, replied on February 12, 2024 that the state government would have to clear the expenses for the stay of the PM’s entourage at Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza in Mysuru during the event.
A second letter was written by the Principal Chief Conservator on March 22, 2024, again reminding the NTCA of the amount to be cleared, including the Rs 80.6-lakh bill for the PM’s stay at Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza. The NTCA has not replied to the Karnataka officer so far.
The General Manager (Finance) of Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza has also reportedly written to the Karnataka Deputy Conservator of Forests Basavaraju on May 21, 2024, stating that the hotel bill was pending to be cleared although more than 12 months had passed since the hotel services were used and the authorities were sent repeated reminders asking for clearance of the bill. The general manager has also informed that an interest of 18 per cent would be applicable to the outstanding amount due to the delayed payment, and demanding the additional sum of Rs 12.09 lakh also be paid as late payment fee.
The hotel management has set a deadline of June 1, 2024 for clearance of the pending amount and also threatened that legal action would be taken if the amount was not settled.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Basavaraju, however, clarified that the State government had refused to clear the bill as per the Central government’s directives as the event was held by the Central government.
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Telangana govt rejects Adani's Rs 100 cr donation for skills university
Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday announced that the state government will not accept the Rs 100 crore CSR donation committed by industrialist Gautam Adani for the Young India Skills University being set up in the state.
The CM's announcement came days after the indictment of the Adani Group chairman in a US court.
In a letter to Priti Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, the state government's Special Chief Secretary (Industries) Jayesh Ranjan said he has been "instructed by the chief minister not to seek the transfer of funds in view of the present circumstances and arising controversies".
While thanking Priti Adani for committing Rs 100 crore to the skills university, the official said the state government has so far not asked any of the donors for physical transfer of funds since the university had not received the IT exemption under Section 80 G. However, the IT exemption order has now been received recently.
Addressing a press conference here, Revanth Reddy said the decision was taken as the Congress government does not want to find itself in any unwarranted controversy amid the allegations against the Adani Group.
He said so far the Telangana government has not accepted a single rupee into its account from any organisation, including Adani Group, for the skills university being established to promote employment avenues for youth.
"I and my Cabinet colleagues do not want to be involved in unnecessary discussions and situations that would dent Telangana's image or my own," Reddy said.
Gautam Adani met the chief minister here on Octrober 18 and symbolically handed over a cheque for Rs 100 crore towards donation to the skills university.
Asked about the comments of BRS that the government should cancel the Adani Group's investment proposals in the state, Reddy said the government will have to take legal opinion for cancellation of any agreements as the other party can go to courts against unilateral termination of pacts.
On BRS working president K T Rama Rao's comments that the previous BRS regime did not allow Adani Group into the state, Reddy displayed photographs of former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and Rama Rao with Gautam Adani to the mediapersons.
He also read out a list of Adani Group's investment proposals reportedly approved by the BRS government.
"Is he (Rama Rao) ready for a probe on these," Reddy asked.
When pointed out that the state government discussed investment proposals with the Adani Group though Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been raising questions on Adani for several years now, he said Congress is not against any investment proposal or corporate house but crony capitalism and violation of rules.
It is his responsibility to follow his leader when the latter is raising his voice on an issue, Reddy said.
