Hotel Eyes Court Battle as Government Delays Payment!

Radisson Blu Plaza in Mysuru, the hotel where Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed during his visit in April 2023, is considering legal action due to an unpaid bill of ₹80.6 lakh. This financial dispute has persisted for over a year, highlighting the complications and delays in settling government expenses. PM Modi's visit to Mysuru was to celebrate 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). Initially, the State Forest Department was instructed to organize the event with a budget of ₹3 crore, fully funded by the Central government. However, due to urgent instructions from top officials at MoEF and NTCA, the event's costs escalated to ₹6.33 crore.

The additional expenses were attributed to extra activities and logistical requirements that were added following the NTCA's guidelines and the needs of the schedule. Despite communications between the State Forest Department and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, ₹3.33 crore remains unpaid, although ₹3 crore has been disbursed by the Centre. The financial impasse has led to ongoing discussions about the unpaid hotel bills for the Prime Minister's stay. The issue was initially flagged by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) to the NTCA in New Delhi on September 29, 2023. The NTCA responded in February 2024, stating that the State government should cover these expenses.

Despite assurances, the balance amount has not been settled. The Karnataka Forest Department wrote to the NTCA requesting the clearance of these bills. In response, the NTCA suggested that the State government should reimburse the outstanding hotel expenses. Karnataka's Forest Minister, Eshwar Khandre, confirmed that the state government has decided to reimburse the amount. Caught between the Centre and the state government, Radisson Blu Plaza had written to the Mysuru Forest Department seeking clearance of dues by June 1. Additionally, the hotel has demanded a delayed payment interest of ₹12.09 lakh from the government. As the deadline approaches, the hotel is prepared to pursue legal action to recover the outstanding amount, reflecting the broader challenges in managing government-funded events and their associated costs.