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Tourists to pay beach tax at Puri

Puri: Tourists visiting this pilgrim town would have to pay a small sum for maintenance of the beach which is under threat due to massive erosion.

According to a decision by the government, a tourist checking into a big or medium hotel would pay Rs. 20 and Rs. 10 in small hotels as tax for development of the beach, official sources said. Vendors doing business on the beach would also pay Re. 1 daily as tax, sources said.

The newly constituted Beach Development Committee, headed by Revenue Divisional Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, decided to spend more on beautification of the beach here which is one of its kind in the country. The government planned to use the tax collected from tourists for plantation, illumination and waste management at the beach, Mr. Mohapatra said.

While hoteliers and tourism officials had no objection in collecting tax from tourists, the city-based Beach Protection Council headed by Jagannath Bastia opposed it.

“Asking for money from tourists will have an adverse impact on tourism,” Mr. Bastia said, adding that the BPC would challenge it in the Orissa High Court.

Mr. Mohapatra, on the other hand, said that contributing Rs. 20 or Rs. 10 would not be a burden on tourists. – PTI

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