Business hit, CITCO seeks ₹16 crore from Chandigarh admn for salaries, bills

The tourism corporation has around 700 regular and 650 contractual staff, whose one-month salary totals to ₹5.5 crore

With little to no revenue generation amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) has sought around Rs 16 crore from the UT administration to pay the salaries of staff and other utility bills.

CITCO owns some prime properties in Chandigarh including five-star hotels, restaurants bars, sales depots, lakes, gardens and a petrol pump. The pandemic has, however, hit the corporation’s business hard. (Anil Dayal/HT)

Currently, CITCO has around 700 regular and 650 contractual staff, whose one-month salary amounts to Rs 5.5 crore.

With yearly turnover of around Rs 500 crore, CITCO owns some prime properties in Chandigarh, including five-star hotels, restaurants bars, sales depots, lakes, gardens and a petrol pump. The pandemic has, however, hit the corporation’s business hard.

‘NO BUSINESS AT ALL’

A contractor providing manpower to the corporation, requesting anonymity, said, “How will I pay when there is no business at all? If the situation continues, I will be left with no option but to send my staff on leave without pay.”

Showing concern over the financial crisis, the chairman of the CITCO union, Kashmir Chand said, “The petrol pumps still open have also lost around 95% of the business, while the rest 5% are continuing on credit. Also, there won’t be immediate revival of the industry even after the lockdown gets over. That’s why we need the administration’s help to sustain.”

CITO chairman Arun Kumar Gupta said the administration was considering the demand for the grant.