Go slow on raids till Dasara fest, hoteliers appeal to corporation

MYSURU: Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and hoteliers have locked horns again after civic agency took out a series of raids on commercial establishments which are running without trade licence. Hoteliers are now asked the agency not to "trouble" them till the Dasara festival is over.
Due to Cauvery agitation, hoteliers claim to have lost business. Tourists from other states have been avoiding the city for several weeks due to the daily protests and agitations throughout Mysuru and neighbouring districts.
"While we are still struggling to cope with the losses, the corporation authorities have taken up raids on hotels and other commercial establishments in the city, demanding trade licence and levying fines for using plastic bags. This is like rubbing salt on our wounds," hoteliers said.
There are 203 lodges, 265 veg- and non-vegetarian restaurants, 77 sweets stalls, 260 bakeries, 8 star hotels, 89 wine stores and 108 bar and restaurants in Mysuru city. With a decline in the tourist footfall, their association has recently announced a 30% discount on lodging bills for tourists from Tamil Nadu and Kerala for two months.
Few days ago, MCC officials raided shops in Vidyaranyapuram and seized 190kg of plastic bags. They also locked 40 shops in Chamundipuram which were allegedly running without trade licence. MCC commissioner G Jagadish said that he had directed the pollution control board officials to register criminal cases against the shops owners for using plastic bags, despite a ban.
Association president C Narayanagowda told TOI: "When hoteliers are worried over the drastic decline in tourists' footfall, the civic authorities have taken up raids. Since the hospitality sector is in a sorry state, we demanded that they not take any action during Dasara festival. Raids affect business and our livelihood. Let them take action after Dasara season. We have conveyed our concerns to both the mayor and MCC commissioner."
Meanwhile, mayor B L Byrappa has directed the officials to temporarily stop the raids on commercial establishments till Dasara festivals is over.