FHRAI writes to Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, requesting his immediate intervention in directing the Andaman & Nicobar Administration to charge electricity for the Hospitality sector at industrial rates. The Association highlighted the fact that not only has the Administration refused to execute the orders by JERC and High Court of Calcutta but its Electricity Department has now sent notices to members of the Hoteliers Association of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (HAANI) asking them to pay the higher commercial rates and refusal to comply would lead to disconnection of electricity to their establishments.
The Association has stated that despite Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (JERC) decision through its order dated 02/12/2020 and the Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta’s order dated 31/08/2021 directing the Andaman & Nicobar Administration to charge electricity for the Hospitality sector at industrial rates, the Administration and the Electricity Department has continued to charge commercial rates to the hospitality units.
“HAANI wrote several letters to the Islands’ Administration requesting them to rectify their electricity bills and to charge industrial rates as per the directions of the JERC. However, the Administration not only refused to execute the orders but instead the Electricity Department sent notices to members of the Association threatening to disconnect their electricity connection if they refuse to pay the bills. The industry is in dire need of the Government’s support in bringing relief for the hospitality sector and we hope that the Home Minister will do the required to help the industry through these trying times,” says Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI.
