Dormitory holds fort for private meets

Reported by BK lakshmikanth in dnaindia.com on 03 August 2012
Dormitory holds fort for private meets - Bangalore - DNA

A dormitory complex built for tourists near Chitradurga Fort has been rented out by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) for conducting private meetings and marriage ceremonies, according to an RTI activist.

The complex, built at a cost of `2.08 crore to help tourists who come from far off places, was inaugurated in December 2009.

“The dormitory and rooms are for tourists who visit the fort. But KSTDC officials have been illegally renting them for private functions. They have been collecting money from those who hold functions,” alleged Shivakumar Hosamani of NGO Samarpana.

KSTDC managing director Dr CD Dyavaiah said: “There are five rooms and a hall in the complex. It is not illegal to rent out the property for parties and functions. But if the property has been rented out without a receipt, then it is illegal.”

While Dyavaiah said only the hall is rented out for private functions, tourism department’s joint director, in a reply to the RTI application, said both the hall and rooms are given for functions. KSTDC has also been collecting luxury tax from the organisers of the functions.

Hosamani said KSTDC cannot give the dormitory for holding meetings. “KSTDC has not taken permission from the municipality. As a lot of garbage is generated during marriage functions, which has to be lifted by the municipality, its permission is mandatory before renting out the hall for marriage functions,” he said.