By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Crowborough Hotel project at Khyndailad, which was planned way back in the 1980s, has faced another jolt.
It is learnt that the lessee Lessly Shylla- a coal trader from Jaintia Hills who took lease of the hotel for 33 years – has not paid the lease rent for the last three quarters.
Confirming this to The Shillong Times, a source from the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) said that Shylla has not paid the lease rent and the license fee for the last three quarters — March, June and September whereas the fourth quarter is due, shortly.
“We are sending him reminder after reminder for clearing the payments,” said the source.
It may be mentioned that as per the lease agreement signed between MTDC and Shylla, the private developer is to complete the hotel within a year.
But the party could not complete the work on time, following which extension was given by the MTDC earlier till November, 2010 and thereafter up to November, 2011.
It may be mentioned that earlier a source said that the board can liquidate the security amount of one year lease rental in case of termination of contract, on the penalties that it can impose on the lessee due to non-payment of lease rent and the license fee. Secondly, since it is a BOT (Built Operate Transfer) concept, whatever infrastructure has been constructed, that is, asset creation will become MTDC’s property. The lessee has to pay the rent and the fee for the entire lease term on quarterly basis to MTDC.
However, the delay in completion of the hotel has raised critical questions regarding its utility.
Those in the know hows of things say that since the much-awaited project has been dormant for years, the site could have been better utilized for other purpose.
The project has so far got two extensions and if any further extension is given to the party it would amount to violation of the agreement clauses, sources have said. Besides, doubts are being expressed that the MTDC Board of Directors was playing into the hands of the powerful lobby that is behind the hotel project.