Mysuru: Mysuru Hotel Owners’ Association President C. Narayanagowda has issued a strong warning, stating that hotel owners will stop paying taxes and obtaining trade licences from the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) if unauthorised food stalls operating on city footpaths are not removed.

Accusing the MCC of inaction, despite many requests and representations, Narayanagowda said that over 3,000 illegal vegetarian and non-vegetarian stalls and make-shift shelters are running across the city’s 65 Wards, conducting business worth lakhs of rupees without paying taxes.

“Legitimate hotel owners obtain licences, pay GST and other taxes, and adhere to all the quality standards imposed by MCC, while these footpath eateries evade taxes and rent. How is this fair? The MCC imposes all sorts of restrictions on legitimate hotels and freely allows footpath vendors to even operate in unhygienic conditions, without any regulations,” he said.

He urged MCC to take immediate action against all unauthorised street food vendors — except those officially recognised — to prevent the city’s aesthetics from deteriorating.

“If the MCC does not act, we will also set up businesses on footpaths in front of our hotels and we will stop paying rent and all taxes, including GST,” Narayanagowda warned.

Narayanagowda also criticised the use of plastic in food preparation, particularly in making idlis, warning of serious health risks.