MUMBAI, December 2: The 18-year-old organisation AHAR (Association of Hotels and Restaurants), representing around 5,000 city eateries, has split after one of its prominent leaders broke away to form a new association two months back.

Sitaram Shetty, AHAR President, called the split `unethical'. ``We were shocked to know that without any reason some of the members suddenly decided to separate and form a new association.''

However, Sadanand Shetty, who formed and leads the breakaway group the Mumbai Hotel and Restaurants' Association (MHRA), told Express Newsline that the AHAR had failed to represent and resolve the grievances of over 14,000 hotels and bars in the grade I, II & III.

He listed the problems faced by hoteliers as police harassment, interference by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities and repeated raids by the excise officers.

``The licence fees for new restaurants has been doubled, excise authority demands separate statements of bill for the each brand of liqour, the prices of raw meterial have increased drastically and the rate of consumption of water and electricity have been increased,'' he lamented.

Sadanand alleged that AHAR took up the cause of only rich bars and restaurants from whom it collected heavy fees ignoring the smaller bar owners.

Police Commissioner R H Mendonca, against whom some hoteliers had complained of launching a witch-hunt against the dance and beer bars for violating the 12.30 am deadline to down the shutter, said, ``Bar owners have to abide by the legal time limit sanctioned to them otherwise we will take action. This cannot be called police harassment. Failing to regularly renew licences will also invite action,'' he added.

The vice president of the AHAR, A B Shetty said that they have distributed city's restaurants and bars into seven zones for the convenience and held monthly meetings to solve their problems.

``If the bar owners keep their doors open beyond the time limit, occupy the roadside space and allow illegal gambling in their premises what we can do?'' he asked.

According to the MHRA chief the dance bars in five star, three star and hotels recognised by India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) remain open till 3 am while the small bar owners are not allowed to even reach the deadline.

``We will fight against such discriminations,'' he said.

Claiming that the AHAR has only 2,000 hoteliers as members, Sadanand Shetty said, ``We will not oppose AHAR but enroll the remaining 10,000 hoteliers in our association who are still unrepresented.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.