Second wave of COVID-19 makes recovery tougher for hospitality sector in Karnataka
The Hindu
Industry wants State government to emulate Gujarat, which has reportedly waived off property tax and fixed charge on electricity bills for one year
Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic for the second successive year, the crisis-hit hotel industry is impatiently looking to the Karnataka government for some relief akin to the package announced by Gujarat, which has reportedly waived off property tax and fixed charge on electricity bills for one year. Several hoteliers are planning to shut down their establishments as they are unable to run the business with zero revenue due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns. Domestic tourism nosedived during the lockdowns. Stakeholders said the hotel industry did not get any financial aid from the Karnataka government during the first wave of COVID-19 despite repeated appeals. During the second wave, hotels and restaurants were closed for over two months. They argue that revival appears tough without the government’s support.The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.