The hoteliers in Nainital have started an agitation against the district administration alleging that 60 per cent of their business has been affected due to tourist vehicles being stopped outside the city.
Under the banner of hotel and restaurant association, dozens of hoteliers led by the association head Dinesh Sah staged a demonstration at Rusi bypass on the Nainital-Haldwani highway. Hotelier Pravin Sharma said that the association has for long been requesting the administration to arrange parking space in the city but nothing has been done.
He alleged that the authorities were stopping tourist vehicles at Rusi bypass, Kathgodam and Kaladhungi, preventing the tourists from reaching Nainital.
Sah said that arrangements made by the administration for the summer tourist season this year had affected 60 per cent of the business here.
The hoteliers alleged that the authorities have not made proper arrangements for tourists despite the considerable employment generation ensured through the tourism business. Earlier, Sah presented flowers to police personnel posted at Rusi bypass stating that the association doesn’t oppose them but will oppose conditions created by senior officials of the administration and police.
According to the association, it will stage a demonstration at Gandhi Chowk in Tallital today while a candle march will be taken out on Saturday in the city. Meanwhile, the association office bearers are also seeking appointments with the chief minister and the chief secretary to raise their issues with them.
It will be recalled that hotel owners had earlier put up black flags outside their establishement in protest.
Following this, the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar MP and BJP state president Ajay Bhatt had asked the Kumaon commissioner to hold talks with the hoteliers. It is pertinent to mention here that the rush of tourists and limited parking space in Nainital have often resulted in major traffic jams here.
Recently, visitors had to spend the night in the open after all the hotels and lodges were fully booked. In the past, the issue had also reached the high court which had issued directions for addressing this problem.