Lighting Gateway costs the Taj dear

MUMBAI: Throwing light on a part of history has cost the Taj Mahal hotel dear. The hotel, which sponsored the illumination of the Gateway of India, has been handed a Rs 36 lakh electricity bill by the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking.
The electricity company has told the Taj that showcasing the heritage structure does not attract any concessions.The Taj authorities say they have been saddled with the bill because the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, which was supposed to share the electricity expenses, has backed out.
In the BEST bill, Rs 16 lakh has been charged for electricity consumption and the balance Rs 20 lakh is surchage for delayed payment.The delay, say Taj officials, was the result of the confusion about who would foot the bill. After a series of meetings with the BEST, the Taj has agreed to pay the entire bill.
However, the hotel management now is demanding that the BEST charge them a concessional rate for lighting the heritage monument, which stands across the road from the century-old hotel. The demand for a concession has been categorically rejected by the BEST management.
“There are other corporate houses sponsoring the illumination of heritage buildings in the city. All of them pay commercial rates (approximately Rs 4 per unit),’’ BEST general manager Swadhin Kshatriya said.
“How can we have a different tariff for the Taj?’’ However, Z. Ghadiali, the chief engineer at the Taj, said that the hotel has voluntarily been maintaining the area around the Gateway. “We don’t even advertise for lighting up the area,’’ he said.
Most companies that sponsor the illumination of city heritage buildings have put up plaques advertising the fact. The Taj management has asked municipal commissioner K.C. Srivastava to consider a concessional electricity rate.
But “I’ll look into it’ is all Mr Srivastava said.