JOIN USTracking illegal homestays an uphill task in Kodagu
Unauthorised homestays in Kodagu district have become a headache for the district administration. In spite of calling upon the people providing homestay accommodation without valid permission to comply with registration procedure, there has been no response from the owners.
A total of 404 homestays are registered in the district. The process of registering 29 homestays are in progress. However, there are hundreds of illegal homestays that function amidst coffee estates in the district.
In fact, Coorg Homestay Association members had urged the Superintendent of Police P Rajendra Prasad to initiate action against the homestays functioning without valid permission.
With the increase in number of tourists visiting the district, the number of homestays operating in the district too have increased.
The tourism department issues permission for the functioning of the homestay. But illegal homestays do not display any board. They provide accomodation to the guests through middlemen. The unauthorised homestays do not maintain any register or collect ID card proof from the visitors.
Tracking unauthorised homestays in the district has become an uphill task to the authorities concerned.
Tourism department In-charge Officer Jagannath said, “To help the homestays to avail permission, four rating agencies have been started in the State. The owners should submit applications to the agencies, which in turn will submit them to the tourism department. After availing approved receipt, the homestay owners have to obtain licence from the ULBs or local authorities. After availing the permits, the owners have to pay Rs 17,500 to the agency for a period of three years. For the renewal of permits, the owners have to approach the agency. The new rules regarding homestays have come into existence from April 1. As many as 29 homestays have submitted applications for registration as per the new guidelines,” he added.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, SP P Rajendra Prasad said, “the authorities have initiated measures to check illegal homestays in the district. The police personnel will visit the homestay and verify before issuing NoC. The homestays should instal CCTV cameras and maintain a register. The homestay owners should collect a proof of ID card and address from the visitors. A visit of a foreign national should be informed to the nearest police station. We will initiate measures to close down all the unauthorised homestays operating in the district.”