District tourism development committee meeting held

Speaking at the district tourism development committee meeting held at the Kodagu Deputy Commissioners office hall at Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda informed that issue regarding electricity charges of homestays whether should be charged as commercial use or non-commercial will be discussed in detail with the Minister of Tourism and high-level officials and the district level officials of six districts. He also said that there should be a similar definition of electricity charges for commercial use and domestic use for homestays and added that it will be discussed with the Minister of Tourism. 

Speaking further MLA said that Kodagu district should create more infrastructure in tourism sector and informed that attention should be given that tourists should not face any kind of trouble while visiting Kodagu.  

He also advised tourists as well as residents that not to throw garbage everywhere and to avoid plastic compulsorily. Green, wet and dry waste should be bifurcated and given separately.

Speaking on the occasion some of the representatives of the Home Stay Association said that registered home stays allow tourists to stay in their homes. Apart from that, they are not doing any commercial activity like in the hotel. Therefore, they demanded that electricity charges should be considered as domestic use.

They also said that Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Board Engineers carry out inspections and fix electricity charges as per commercial usage so this has caused a lot of trouble to the homestay owners informed Home Stay representatives in the meeting to the legislators and requested the MLA to kindly intervene.

Commenting on this, Anita Bai CESC Executive Engineer said that as far as the homestays are concerned, the government guidelines under the tourism policy are being followed. 

Speaking on the occasion, an engineer of the Karnataka Electricity Board said that the orders issued by the government regarding commercial and domestic use are being followed by the electricity corporation.  

Karumbaiah, the former president of Home Stay Association opined that along with agriculture, importance should be given to tourism also in Kodagu district and added that this will help in creating employment. 

DC Venkat Raja said that regarding in the website of tourism of Kodagu district, further information must be provided about holy temples and tourism activities. 

DC also said that in the district, 60% Kannada language should be written compulsorily on all name boards whether it is commercial or government institutions and this should be followed without fail and DC in the meeting requested to change the name boards as soon as possible.

Speaking on the occasion member of the association Monti Ganesh informed that different types of fees are being charged for homestay in different gram panchayats of the district and this should be rectified and common fee should be collected everywhere she demanded.

Reacting to this, Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Varnith Negi said that the Gram Panchayat is a local organization with its own elected members and it will take a decision regarding the tax keeping in mind with the local resources so in this regard, ZP will not interfere he clarified 

On the occasion, Anita Bhaskar, Deputy Director of Tourism Department has given information regarding tourism and home stay in the district and said that a homestay can be operated in 6 to 8 rooms in a house. 

To run a homestay, one has to register with the tourism department and get permission from the local bodies and NOC should be obtained from the police department. 

Speaking on the occasion Police officer I P Medappa informed there should be CCTV in the Home Stays and parking space for vehicles. 

Amarnath B., Nalini Acchaiah, Usha Ganapathy, C C Thimmiah, N K Changappa, Mickey Kalappa, K M Karumbaiah, M. Meena Kariappa, P K Hema Madappa, B A Acchaiahof Satish Rai, B P Ganapathy, A S Mallesh of Homestay Association were present.