In Bilaspur, DM serves the menu: mutton curry with minimum 5 mutton pieces, matar paneer with 100 gm paneer…

“In exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Clause 3(1) (e) of the H.P. Hoarding and Profiteering Prevention Order, 1977, I, Rahul Kumar, IAS, District Magistrate, Bilaspur, do hereby fix the maximum retail prices inclusive of all taxes and other incidental charges… in respect of the …essential commodities that may be charged by the dealers or retailers in district with immediate effect,” read the order issued by the DM Wednesday,

A senior administrative official said, the instructions have been issued to curb overcharging in the district, which is being developed as the adventure water sports destination. “There are over a thousand roadside eateries and food-corners not affiliated with the district or state tourism department. The directions will apply only to only such eateries”.

Talking to the Indian Express, Kumar said, “The price list is for controlling the prices at roadside eateries/dhabas and small guest houses, which are operated from the eateries. We are of the opinion that tourists should not be harassed over prices of food items. Hotels, restaurants and other such service providers in the hospitality sector are excluded from these orders”.

An officer with the Bilaspur district tourism department, requesting anonymity, said that more such orders are expected in the coming days for the convenience of tourists. “The state government is promoting Bilaspur as an adventure water sports hub. River Sutlej, on which Gobind Sagar Lake is located, passes through Bilaspur. Tourists are heavily dependent on private eateries, hotels, and restaurants as the state tourism department is yet to meet the growing demand for infrastructure here,” the official said.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on April 12 had launched water sports activities including cruises, shikaras, houseboats, jet skis, motorboats, and water scooters at Gobind Sagar Lake. Sukhu had also announced that the government intends to provide a 5% interest subvention on loans to Himachali youth for the construction of hotels and homestays.

Though DM Kumar clarified that the orders is applicable to small eateries and guesthouses, the move has ignited a debate on whether the government can pass such orders fixing uniform rates for food items, considering that even roadside dhabas fix the rates based on multiple factors, including the location, the type of plate and cutlery used to serve the customer, the source of the raw material, and number of people employed to the seating arrangements.

Rajesh Kumar, who runs small eatery at Shree Naina Devi Ji, a pilgrimage site in Bilaspur, said, “The rates fixed by the local administration are not feasible. For instance, how do they expect us to sell stuffed parathas for Rs 20 a piece? The rates for vegetarian items are on the lower side. Considering that it is a religious place, tourists ask for vegetarian food only”.

Dharminder Singh, who owns Dholra Guesthouse near AIIMS, Bilaspur, too said the rates of the vegetarian items should be increased. “Even a roadside eatery charges Rs 10 for a chapati. No eatery owner can afford to sell a stuffed paratha for Rs 20. Similarly, Rs 70 for full vegetarian meal is not feasible,” said Singh.

Mahinder Seth, president of Himachal Pradesh Hotel Association, said that the prices of food items in hotels and restaurants vary as per the quality of service provided. “Tourism department regulates these prices under different rules,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bilaspur District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) Brijender Pathania told The Indian Express that the orders will “help us curb overcharging on both vegetarian and non-vegetarian” food items. “The notification is valid for one month and may be extended further”.

In state capital Shimla, a major tourist destination, several eateries and shopkeeper associations had filed a petition in the district court, challenging the administration’s power to fix food prices, said Narinder Dhiman, District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC), Shimla.

“The court issued a stay order on the earlier directives. The stay is still in place, and the hearing has been ongoing for over five years,” the DFSC said.

Eatery owners and shopkeepers in Shimla fix the rates of food items on their own.