Hardas' missive accuses the listed food establishments of ``eating into pavement space while the authorities look the other way.'' The outgoing standing committee chairperson (elections to the new panel are to be held tomorrow) has demanded that demolition notices be served to these establishments immediately and has asked Bandri to inquire into ``how these structures were allowed to come up in the first place.''

Kalyan Hotel Owners' Association (HOA) president Bhaskar Shetty denied there were any illegal constructions or encroachments by hoteliers in Kalyan. ``Wherever temporary sheds havebeen put up, they are for keeping rains out,'' he said, adding, ``it is unfortunate that the same elected representatives who requested us to give up precious space for road-widening are now slandering us.'' He refuted Hardas' allegation that officials were being paid to ``look the other way.'' He also criticised the KDMC which had issued notices to the 47 hoteliers listed in the letter. ``What has the corporation done about food-carts which cook and sell food in insanitary conditons without licence?'' he asked, mentioning the gastro and jaundice epidemics that rocked Kalyan-Dombivli in 1997-98.

President of Dombivli HOA Vithal Shetty too wondered why Hardas had only singled out encroachments by hotels, when there were many such instances ``even in his own ward of much older encroachments.'' He further stated: ``The timing of the letter is indicative of his ulterior motives.'' Other hoteliers told Express Newsline on condition of anonymity that Hardas had demanded a sum of Rs 5,000 per hotel beforeshooting off the letter. ``Since we are already burdened due to mounting overheads, we could not agree to such a huge amount,'' complained one of them, adding, ``we would have even considered his demand if he had been willing to negotiate but he stuck to the amount quoted.''

Hardas, however, denied all charges of ulterior motives. He said, ``I have already submitted a list of illegal constructions linked to corporators to the commissioner three months ago. The present letter is the second one. I will soon be giving the commissioner a list of illegal tapris and hoardings too.'' Asked what his follow-up to this written communication will be, he said, ``It is for the administration to take action in these cases. If, despite giving them a detailed list, no action is taken, we will be forced to agitate.'' He wondered why the KDMC had kept quiet inspite of a Union government directive in 1997 (following the Uphaar cinema tragedy) to issue notices to all commercial establishments that fell short of fire safetystandards. ``Will any of the officials or hoteliers take responsibility in case of a mishap?'' he asked, fearing that illegal mezzanines were not built with the safety component in mind. The Lake View tragedy in Thane in October 1998 had claimed 11 lives after the illegal mezzanine above the kitchen caught fire.

Sena insiders, however, insist that Hardas' concern is removed from the safety aspect and has more to do with the mayoral polls due next month. They say Hardas is desperately scrounging for funds since he is running for mayor next month. ``He had invested a lot in trying to wrangle an assembly ticket for himself. This has eaten into his resources, which he will now need if he runs for mayor,'' pointed out a senior Sena corporator known for his regular outbursts against the standing committee chairperson.

Hardas, meanwhile, declined comment on whether he was in the race for the mayor's post and dismissed the linking of the letter with the mayoral contest.

Rajya Sabha MP and senior Sena leaderSatish Pradhan, known to be close to Hardas, said he was aware of the problem of encroachments. ``Irrespective of whether anybody is a hotelier or not, the law is the same for all. If there are encroachments, the hoteliers will have to face the music. Attempts to deflect attention by linking this to the mayoral polls will not work,'' he said, adding, ``Anybody trying to collect money in the name of the Sena should be promptly trapped and handed over to the ACB or police.'' He, however, assured the hoteliers would not be subjected to unnecessary harassment.

Hotels with encroachments

KALYAN: Hotel Mahalaxmi; Hotel Gurudev; Hotel Vikas; Hotel New Grand; Hotel Vishwa Palace; Hotel Amrit Punjab; Hotel Amar Palace; Hotel Santosh (all at Shivaji Path); Hotel Prakash near RTO; Hotel Maharaja; Hotel Prashant; Hotel Vaibhav; Hotel Priya; Hotel Sridevi; Hotel Preetam; Hotel Biji's Hut; Hotel Woodland,(all at Murbad Road); Hotel Garnish, Karnik Road; Hotel Society, Rambaug; Hotel Abhishekh, Rambaug; HotelMauli, Rambaug; Hotel Beers, Agra Road; Hotel Ramdev, Agra Road; Ganesh Ice-cream, Agra Road; Hotel Welcome, Agra Road; Hotel Shailaja, Bail Bazar; Hotel Red Rose, Bail Bazar; Hotel Sadhana, Near Bhanu-Sagar cinema; Hotel Sitara, near Bhanu-Sagar cinema.

DOMBIVLI: Hotel Supriya, Kalyan Rd; Hotel Regency, Kalyan Rd; Hotel Relax, Manpada Rd; Hotel Vishal, Manpada Rd; Hotel Priyanka, Manpada Rd; Vadilal Ice-Cream, Opp. Hotel Ramkrishna; Hotel Karishma, Rai Rd; Hotel Vijay, near vegetable market; Chandu Palace, near veg market; Hotel Music, Nehru Rd; Hotel Tara Palace, Nehru Rd; Hotel Modern Cafe, Phadke Rd; Hotel Durga, Phadke Rd; Hotel Ambika, Phadke Rd; Hotel Ranjit, Kopar Rd; Meeting Point, Kopar Rd; Hotel Ashoka, Subhash Rd; Hotel Preetam, N Shankarshet Rd.