Register homestays in 15 days, says DC

 Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari has directed the officers of the department concerned to furnish details of the homestays that are not registered and are functioning illegally.

He was presiding over a review meeting to discuss the style of functioning of homestays in Kodagu district, at the DC’s office in the city on Thursday.

He instructed the Tourism department officials to submit the list to the district administration and then to the National Informatics Centre for uploading it on its website. Steps should be taken to legalise the homestays by registering them within 15 days.

“Accurate information has to be provided to the tourists who come to the district. In that direction, information boards comprising details about registered homestays, distance, etc, should be displayed in the main entry of the border area, Raja Seat and other important tourism places, he said adding that information should also be made available on the website.

Superintendent of Police M N Anucheth said that according to the information available with the police department, there are 260 registered homestays in the district and 130 fresh homestay applications have been submitted. As many as 184 homestays are functioning illegally in the district, he said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner H Prasanna said that there was a need to verify whether the registered homestays have electricity, pure drinking water, toilet, parking facilities and hygiene in the premises. Tourism department Assistant Director V Panish said that according to the information available with the Tourism department, there are 249 registered homestays in the district, while the number of illegal homestays exceeds 1,000.

Meanwhile, City based Vakeela Spandana organisation has warned the government of approaching the High Court if the government fails to take any steps to control illegal homestays that are rampantly functioning across the district. These homestays violating the tourism guidelines, evading tax and also polluting the environment, the forum claimed.