Crackdown on illegal hotels, restaurants affects tourism in Kodai, say stakeholders

Citing violations, a team formed by the Kodaikanal Municipality locked and sealed several such structures in the recent past. According to R Murugesan, Commissioner, Kodaikanal Municipality, a total of 228 buildings were acted against in the last two months.

“Constructed during the last decade, the buildings were found to be unauthorised and deviated from their original plan. They were approved for residential purpose, but commercial structures were raised in contravention,” the Commissioner said.  However, the continuing crackdown has left scores of people, relying on the hospitality industry, facing a bleak future. This has also affected the tourism sector, the major industry here.

According to S L Francis Raja, who was employed in a now-closed hotel, the abrupt enforcement by authorities has triggered an economic crisis. “A wide section of people ranging from receptionist, chef, tourist guides to taxi drivers have been left without a job,” he said. Left without a job for the last 25 days, A Rabik Raja, a hotel supervisor, said he could hardly pay tuition fees for his daughter, who is now preparing for the board exam.

S Abdul Kani Raja, secretary, Kodaikanal Hotel and Resort Owners Association, said almost 80 per cent of commercial establishments were shut down, affecting the livelihood of 20,000 workers. He said 48 hotels were closed a month ago, while 258 more hotels were shut over the last 15 days. According to him, the issue was mired in confusion as the problem remains in giving approval to commercial buildings by the Kodaikanal Municipality. “Since 1993, master plans for commercial buildings had not been renewed. The government authorities should have renewed such plans once in five years as the population has increased substantially.”

“While one-time regulation on buildings which deviated from plan was implemented thrice in most parts of Tamil Nadu and relaxations were given, hill stations such as Kodaikanal and Ooty had been exempted from this exercise,” Abdul Kani Raja said, adding that stakeholders are looking forward to a newmaster plan.

“The situation will turn worse during the peak tourist season (April and May) if the buildings continue to remain closed. Capitalising on the closure of hotels and lodges, some hoteliers were fleecing the tourists by charging exorbitant money as room rent,” said Ramesh, president, Kodaikanal Taxi Drivers Association.