Tejas Navale 

Pune: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mysore last year has led to a brewing controversy as the hotel bill for his stay remains unpaid. The Radisson Blu Plaza, where Modi stayed in April 2023, is now threatening legal action over the unpaid bill amounting to Rs 80.6 lakh.

During his visit, Modi attended an event organised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to celebrate 50 years of Project Tiger. Despite the event's success, the associated costs have become a point of contention.

The Karnataka State Forest Department was tasked with organising the programme from April 9 to 11, with a budget set at Rs 3 crore, fully supported by central assistance. However, the actual expenditure rose to Rs 6.33 crore, partly due to additional requirements specified by NTCA officials for the Prime Minister's visit. Although the Centre provided Rs 3 crore, the remaining Rs 3.33 crore has not been released, causing financial strain on the State Forest Department.

Correspondence between the Ministry of Environment and Forests and NTCA indicated that the initial budget was Rs 3 crore. However, additional expenses were incurred to meet the needs of the Prime Minister’s programme, leading to an amended quotation by the event management company. Despite clear communication among officials via video conferencing, the issue of unpaid bills remains unresolved.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) in Karnataka, in a letter dated September 29, 2023, reminded the NTCA of the outstanding amount. The NTCA responded on February 12, 2024, stating that the state government should cover the costs of Modi’s stay at the Radisson Blu Plaza.

Further attempts to resolve the issue were made by the current PCCF, Subhash Malkhede, who sent a reminder on March 22, 2024, including the hotel bill. However, this letter also went unanswered.

On May 21, 2024, the General Manager of Radisson Blu Plaza wrote to the Conservator of Forests, Basavaraju, stressing that despite multiple reminders, the bill remains unpaid. The hotel has now demanded an additional Rs 12.09 lakh as interest at an annual rate of 18 percent. The letter warns that legal action will be taken if the bill is not settled by June 1, 2024.