By IANS,
Chandigarh : The “bed and breakfast” scheme of the Chandigarh administration has come under the scanner of a high-level inquiry in the wake of alleged violations of rules and regulations by the residential premises registered under this scheme.
Local media had highlighted a few cases Thursday, where some of the families registered for the scheme were offering more number of rooms than the limit set. In some cases, they were also charging exorbitant amounts from the guests.
Home Secretary Ram Niwas told IANS Thursday: “This is a very serious issue and we have constituted a three-member team, who will look into this matter. After verifying all the facts and figures, the team is expected to submit their report in a couple of days.”
The scheme was launched in this union territory in September 2008.
“There are 25 families registered with us under the bed and breakfast scheme. They are allowed to offer only five rooms in their premises and their charges are also fixed by the administration,” Vinod Kalia, deputy director of tourism, Chandigarh told IANS.
“For the gold category premises, we have fixed a day’s charges at Rs. 900 and for silver it is Rs. 700 and they have to give complimentary breakfast. After the inquiry, if anyone is found violating the norms, then strict action will be taken against them,” he said.
The UT administration had launched this scheme to provide an affordable and comfortable accommodation to the tourists coming here.
“This scheme was launched to facilitate tourism in the city but gradually these premises have become a threat for local hotels in the region. Some of them are offering 10 to 12 rooms and people always prefer them as they offer a better environment,” said a tourism department official, on condition of anonymity.
“There are reports that some of them were charging from Rs.1200-Rs.1500 but things would get clear only after we get the inquiry report,” the official added.