Rourkela: The Rourkela Hotel and Restaurant Association has appealed the state government to allow reopening of units which remain shut due to extended lockdown in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Citing the precarious financial condition of some hotel owners after the closure of bars, restaurants, banquet halls, conference halls and marriage mandaps for more than a year, the Association demanded permission for reopening the units in the city.
The association argued that just as trains and movement of vehicles has been allowed and salons, spas, gymnasiums, street vendors are allowed to operate from 6 am to 8 pm in Category A districts , the government should also give permission to hotels and restaurants to operate. It may be mentioned here that restrictions have been relaxed in Sundargarh (listed in 20 Category A districts of the state) but Rourkela Municipal Corporation is not part of it in view of the heavy case-load it registered during the time of lockdown extension.
They have also demanded exemption of all taxes/levies imposed during the lockdown for the 2021-2022 and a further more for a grace period of 2022-23.
Special relief for employees working in hotels and restaurants. Government should bear at least 50% of the salary paid to the employees to reduce the burden on the hotel owners which will also ensure that they are not retrenched from their jobs.
Interest-free loan facility to the unit to met the shortfall and renovation and two years moratorium package on existing loans of the entrepreneurs and to exempt the required fee/levy thereon for the purpose.
The Odisha government on July 16 enforced complete lockdown in the entire jurisdictions of Khurda, Ganjam, Cuttack and Jajpur districts and Rourkela Municipal Corporation (Sundargarh district) till the midnight of July 31.
The decision was taken to contain and check further spread of COVID-19 in these heavy case-load districts.
