Probe into CITCO units defeating itself - Hindustan Times
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Probe into CITCO units defeating itself

Hindustan Times | ByVinod Kumar, Chandigarh
Feb 25, 2014 10:33 AM IST

The constitution of the three-member panel by Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) to probe into alleged corruption in some of its units has raised many eyebrows, as all the members belong to the units which are under scanner.

The constitution of the three-member panel by Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) to probe into alleged corruption in some of its units has raised many eyebrows, as all the members belong to the units which are under scanner.

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The management acted five months after receiving a complaint forwarded by the Chandigarh vigilance department asking for its comments on the complaint alleging irregularities.

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UT adviser KK Sharma received a complaint in the name of CITCO Parivar on September 6, 2013. Taking serious note of the allegations, the complaint was forwarded to the vigilance department, which subsequently asked the CITCO management to furbish its comments on the matter immediately, on September 10, 2013.

The committee comprising JS Sohki, senior food and beverage cost controller at Hotel Mountview; Nisheeth Khanna, senior manager Lakeview; and Yashwant Singh, manager, central store, and personnel, Parkview; was formed on February 20 to prepare a report on the issue.

The committee has also been asked to give recommendations for curbing these issues in future. A senior official, requesting anonymity, said, the panel would not be able to do a fair job as its members belonged to the same units which were under question.

THE CHARGES

In the complaint, serious allegations of corruption in operation of banquet halls and bars in different units ,Hotel Mountview, Shivalikview, Parkview, Lakeview and Kala Gram have been levelled.

It has also been alleged that the corporation incur loss upto `50,000 on each marriage function held at different venues. Giving examples, it has been stated in the complaint, that `12,000 per function is charged from customers for hiring a floweriest. The hotel gets `1,000 as entry fee, while allegedly, only `5,000 is paid to the floweriest. The remaining amount is allegedly shared among the senior staff members.

For hiring a DJ, a customer is charged `12,000. The DJ is only paid `2,500, while the hotel gets `5,000. The remaining amount is allegedly shared by the officials. Similar allegations have been levelled for providing lighting and setting up of 'Chat Papri' stalls at wedding functions. The complaint states that the customers are given fake bills.

It has also been alleged in the complaint that one has to pay `80,000 per month for getting a posting of barman at hotel Mount View and Shivalik View. According to the complaint, barman has to allegedly shell out `60,000 for getting deployed at Lake View and Hotel Park View.

The complaint also highlighted the issue of staff members working at one unit for long period of time. Despite repeated calls and SMSs, CITCO managing director Tanvi Garg and chief general manager (CGM) Amandeep Kaur were not available for comments.


TUMBLING REVENUE

Over the years, there has been a steep decline in revenue of the corporation. CITCO has earned cash profit of `1.52 crore in the 10-month period ending January 31, 2014, against the profit of `2.86 crore achieved in the corresponding period last year.

According to sources, the profit is down due to decrease in profitability of Hotel Mountview, which has sustained a loss of `1.82 crore, against the profit of `2.21 crore, achieved in the corresponding period last year.

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