MAPUSA
Turning the heat on the hotels for operating illegally in the State, Tourism department has issued show cause notices to 38 hotels threatening to seal their premises for failure to register their businesses with the department.
The department has issued notices to 27 hotels in South Goa on Wednesday, while 11 such premises involved in the hospitality industry were sent notices a day earlier.
The Tourism department has issued the notices under the relevant sections of the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act for their failure to register with the department.
Releasing the names of the hotels for conducting operations illegally, the department has warned of penal action including sealing of their premises.
“The punishment includes imposition of fine upto Rs 1 lakh and may result in disconnection of water and electricity connection and sealing of the hotel premises,” the department said in a press note.
It may be recalled that some months ago, the Goa Small and Medium Hoteliers Association had submitted a memorandum to the department about hotels that were conducting business without registering their premises with government authorities.
They had said around 11,000 hotels were operating illegally in the State and sought action against them.
Based on the complaint, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had directed the department to take action against such hotels.
To avoid hassles, the Tourism department had reduced paper work and directed such establishments to get registered with the department.
The Tourism Minister had said some hotels had come forward and registered their premises with the department.
