A parliamentary committee has expressed concern on the outstanding dues of eight Hotels of over 516 crores rupees towards recoverable Ground rent and other dues like misuse and damages. The Public Accounts commitee, PAC headed by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi has asked the concerned ministry to take up the matter at the appropriate level to facilitate recovery of the outstanding dues.

The outstanding dues include 304 crore from Bharat Hotel, 97.94 crore rupees of Samrat Hotel, 60.90 crore rupees (Le-meridian), 29.57 crore (Taj Man Singh Hotel). The Claridges Hotel 12.88 crores, Ashoka Hotel 5.96 crores, Taj Palace 3.07 crores and Janpath Hotel 1.95 crores are also on the defaulters list. The report on functioning of the Land and Development office in the Ministry of Urban Development was tabled in Parliament.

Dr. Joshi said the Ministry have apprised the Committee that the delay in the recovery of the outstanding dues in the cases of hotels with NDMC and DDA is due to the pendency of a policy decision on payment of interest and charges for misuse and damages. He said, the PAC is not satisfied with the reasoning adduced by the Ministry for non-recovery of outstanding dues from the defaulting Hotels.