Clear dues or your licences will be canceled: Tourism Minister to Trident Hotel, others

Hyderabad: Tourism and Culture Minister V Srinivas Goud has ordered officials to recover dues from major entertainment and recreational establishments that were set up as part of a public-private partnership (PPP).

These establishments had defaulted on a lease payment and revenue sharing for the past few years.

These establishments are operating hospitality and tourism projects on government lands, which were leased to them in the undivided Andhra Pradesh under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. As per the agreement, these establishments had to pay annual lease and ADP (additional development premium), also known as revenue share, to the state government every year.

The land was given on lease to Prasad's IMAX Theatre at Necklace Road, Expotel Hotel at Lower Tank Bund, Trident Hotel in Madhapur, Daspalla Hotel in Jubilee Hills, Jala Vihar at Necklace Road, Snow World at Lower Tank Bund, and a Golf Course in Shamirpet,

The amount runs into several crores of rupees. The major defaulters include Prasad's Imax, which owes Rs 27.45 crore, Jalvihar, which owes Rs 6.51 crore, Snow World Rs 15.01 crore, Expotel Hotel Rs 15.13 crore, Daspalla Hotel Rs 5.67crore, Golf Course Rs 5.58 crore, and Trident Hotel Rs 75.05crore.

Tourism minister V. Srinivas Goud on Thursday reviewed the status of these PPP projects with officials and issued orders to take stringent action against establishments and recover arrears. Srinivas Goud has asked officials to initiate legal action against those who defaulted on their payments. He asked officers to send notices and warning them of discontinuation of civic services if the lessees fail to clear their dues.