TN hoteliers assure Minister to bring down prices of eatables

Chennai, May 17 (UNI) Hoteliers in Tamil Nadu today assured to take steps to bring down the prices of eatables.

The hoteliers gave the assurance to Food Minister E V Velu after he held a meeting with them, following complaints from general public about rise in prices of various eatables in hotels in the state.

After the meeting, the Minister said the hoteliers have assured him that they would take steps to bring down the prices and convey their decision to the government within a week.

Pointing out the steps taken by the state government to check the prices of pulses and edible oil, Mr Velu urged the hoteliers to reduce the prices, considering the interest of middle class and floating population.

The Minister said in a similar meeting convened by him in April last year, he had prevailed upon the hoteliers to bring down the prices, but no results were shown by them in the last one year.

When the hoteliers complained about the difficulties faced by them in getting licence in that meeting, he had immediately taken up the issue with Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

After this, the government issued an order that licence could be issued after the hoteliers secured no objection certificate from Corporation and Police Commissioner, Mr Velu pointed out.

He said most of the common people, daily wage workers and those who come to the city from various places in the state depend on the hotels for their food and beverages.

Of late, there were complaints from the public that prices of idlies, poori, pongal, commonly consumed by them have shot up, the Minister said.

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