CUTTACK: Providing huge relief to Puri hotel owners, the Orissa high court on Friday made it clear that the Puri Konark Development Authority (PKDA) has no power to order demolition of any illegal hotel.
Hearing to a petition of Puri Hotel Association, the bench of Justice Biswanath Rath observed that PKDA is just an implementing body and has not right to take any policy decision or action against hotel owners. “The court observed that rules and norms of Odisha Muncipal Act will be applicable and not that of PKDA because the Puri seashore comes under coastal regulation zone,” said a counsel of Puri hotel association.
The hotel association moved court against PKDA alleging that it has no power to demolish illegal hotels on the seashore or issue permission for their construction. The PKDA issued a direction that hotels should use only 33% of floor area of land for construction and leave the rest vacant.
The PKDA also identified and issued demolition notices to over 300 hotels that have illegally encroached upon the seashore.
TOI | Feb 21, 2015
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