The Radisson Blu Plaza hotel in Mysuru is exploring legal options to recover unpaid bills totaling 80.6 lakh incurred during Prime Minister Modi’s visit in April 2023. The hotel hosted the Prime Minister and his entourage during celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, an event organized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF).
Despite initial commitments from the government to cover the expenses of the event, which was initially budgeted at 3 crore, the costs escalated to 6.33 crore due to additional activities and requirements. The State Forest Department disbursed 3 crore, leaving a balance of 3.33 crore unsettled.
Correspondence between the hotel and the MoEF indicates that the initial event budget was 3 crore, but the NTCA’s guidelines and schedule adjustments necessitated additional activities, leading to an increased quote from the event management company. This revised amount was communicated to all relevant officials during a video conference.
Discussions regarding the unpaid bills have been ongoing since September 2023, when the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) raised the issue with the NTCA in New Delhi. The NTCA subsequently advised the State government to cover the expenses. However, despite reminders from the new Principal Chief Conservator in March 2024 and the hotel’s finance manager in May 2024, the 80.6 lakh bill remains unpaid.
