- A hotel has threatened legal action over unsettled bills totalling ₹80.6 lakh, related to PM Modi’s attendance at the Project Tiger anniversary event.
- The hotel is seeking a resolution by June 1, 2024.
The hotel where Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed during his visit to Mysuru in April 2023 has threatened legal action over unpaid bills amounting to ₹80.6 lakh.
Mr. Modi was in Mysuru to inaugurate the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, an event organized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF).
The State Forest Department was tasked with organizing the event from April 9 to 11 at a cost of ₹3 crore, with assurances of full central assistance. Due to short notice, the total cost of the event rose to ₹6.33 crore. While ₹3 crore was released by the Centre, the remaining ₹3.33 crore is still pending despite ongoing communications between the State Forest Department and the MoEF.
Correspondence between the MoEF and NTCA revealed that the original budget was ₹3 crore. However, additional activities required for the Prime Minister’s visit increased the costs. The event management company revised its quotation, which was shared with officials during a videoconference.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) of Karnataka wrote to the Deputy Inspector-General, NTCA, New Delhi, on September 29, 2023, to remind them of the outstanding dues. On February 12, 2024, the NTCA responded that the expenses for the Prime Minister’s stay at Radisson Blu Plaza in Mysuru should be covered by the State government.
A subsequent letter dated March 22, 2024, from the current PCCF Subhash K. Malkhede reiterated the unpaid dues, including the ₹80.6 lakh hotel bill, but received no response.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of Finance at Radisson Blu Plaza wrote to Deputy Conservator of Forests Basavaraju on May 21, 2024, about the non-payment of bills “even 12 months after the utilisation of our hotel services.” The letter stated that an 18% annual interest on delayed payments would apply, adding ₹12.09 lakh to the total dues.
The hotel management has threatened legal action if the dues are not settled by June 1, 2024.
Dr. Basavaraju noted that the State government rejected the Centre’s directive to reimburse the amount, arguing that it was a Central government programme.
