The Raddison Blu Plaza hotel where Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed during his visit to Mysuru in April 2023 has threatened legal action for non-settlement of bills amounting to ₹80.6 lakh.
According to the Hindu, Prime Minister Modi was in Mysuru to inaugurate the 50th-anniversary event of Project Tiger, organized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF).
The State Forest Department was instructed to conduct the event from April 9 to 11, with an estimated budget of ₹3 crore, promising 100% Central assistance. However, the total cost of the event escalated to ₹6.33 crore.
Despite assurances and an initial release of ₹3 crore from the Centre, the remaining ₹3.33 crore is yet to be disbursed. This delay has led to mounting frustration and financial strain on those involved.
Correspondence between the State Forest Department and the MoEF reveals that the event’s cost was initially pegged at ₹3 crore. However, additional activities, mandated by NTCA officials and the requirements for the Prime Minister’s visit, inflated the budget.
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The event management company, which was outsourced for the programme, submitted a revised quotation reflecting these additions. This revised budget was circulated among officials during a videoconference.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) of Karnataka wrote to the NTCA in New Delhi on September 29, 2023, reminding them of outstanding dues. However, the NTCA responded on February 12, 2024, stating that the expenses for the Prime Minister’s entourage at Radisson Blu Plaza should be covered by the State government.
Despite a subsequent reminder from the current PCCF, Subhash K. Malkhede, on March 22, 2024, regarding the ₹80.6 lakh hotel bill, the NTCA has not responded. Adding to the pressure, the general manager of finance at Radisson Blu Plaza wrote to Deputy Conservator of Forests Basavaraju on May 21, 2024, emphasizing that the bills remain unpaid even 12 months after the event.
The letter said despite consistent follow-ups and reminders, these bills remain unpaid. It goes on to say that a delayed payment interest of 18% per annum would be applicable to the outstanding dues. This additional sum of ₹12.09 lakh (for the delayed payment) should be included when the payment was being affected.
The hotel has set a deadline of June 1, 2024, for settling dues, failing which legal action will be taken. Dr. Basavaraju, Deputy Conservator of Forests, stated that the State government has refused to reimburse the amount, arguing that it was a central government programme.
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