Administration shuts 45 tourism-related businesses running without proper documentation in Kasol

A joint team of the administration, the tourism, revenue, forest and the police departments has closed at least 45 homestays, hotels and camping sites running without registration during an ongoing drive in Kasol of Parvati valley of Kullu district.

Kullu SDM Vikas Shukla said after investigation, all these business activities were closed till further orders. He said, “These businessmen will first have to get their hotels, homestays and camping sites registered with the Tourism Department. Only then they will be allowed run their businesses.”

The SDM said a joint team of the public works, Jal Shakti, electricity, pollution board, town planning, revenue and other departments was inspecting commercial activities related to tourism along with illegal constructions in Kasol.

Kullu District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO) Sunayna Sharma said summons would be issued to defaulters and they would be penalised as per rules. She said, “At least 15 camping sites in Kasol were operating without registration. Some hospitality units were running without proper documentation. Some hotels and homestays had more rooms that were being used with permission to rent lesser accommodation.”

She said, “All have been caught by the joint investigation team. Now, preparations are on for taking action against defaulters.”

The High Court took suo motu notice of the drug menace issue in the state after a PIL petition was filed in this connection. Expressing concern, the court stated that the drug menace was one of the serious problems which the state was facing. The court said illegally functioning tourism-related businesses were a major cause of this menace. The court had directed the Superintendent of Police, Kullu, as well as Zonal Director, Narcotics Control Bureau, Chandigarh, on October 25, 2017, to constitute a joint task force to raid all restaurants, hotels and dhabas in and around Kasol and Malana to stop illegal activities. The force was also directed to visit Malana village and ensure complete eradication of contraband and take action against people indulging in the illegal trade of drugs.

The High Court on December 7, 2017, had directed the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, to shut down 44 hotels which were illegally operating at Kasol in Kullu. The court had also ordered that no establishments at Kasol should be allowed to operate except in accordance with the law. Acting on the directions of the court, 106 illegal commercial establishments were sealed in Manikaran valley in 2018. Illegal encroachments were also razed during the drive. The administration regularly carries out such drives to identify illegal businesses and encroachments by commercial tourism units in Kasol.