Jamshedpur, Nov. 17: The sylvan slopes of Kiriburu-Meghatoburu will shut the door on nature lovers. The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is planning to close down its sprawling guest house at the mining hub.

Kiriburu-Meghatoburu in adjoining West Singhbhum is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the region. The 12-room Meghalaya House, a Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) managed guest house, has been a favourite with visitors.

“The local SAIL authorities in Kiriburu-Meghatoburu have already asked the top management to close down the Meghalaya House permanently. Although senior officials would have to decide within a couple of months, chances that the recommendations would be reversed appear remote,” a senior SAIL functionary of Liriburu-Meghatoburu told The Telegraph.

Local SAIL authorities are not in favour of re-opening the Meghalaya House since they are apprehensive that it would complicate matters once the guest house becomes operational. “Political leaders, state government officials and local goons make a beeline for the retreat and demand the best of services at odd hours. If politicians are not provided quality services, they ransack the place, manhandle the staff and destroy guest house property. There is no point in running a guest house when our main job is to extract iron ore,” local officials said.

The Meghalaya House has been temporarily closed since May this year after some Calcutta-based SAIL officials were attacked and assaulted by the rural engineering organisation minister Madhu Koda and his associates at the guest house.

“This temporary closure would now give way to permanent closure and it is just a matter of time when things get finalised,” sources said and added that SAIL has already constructed an alternative 10-room guest house in Orissa for those visiting Kiriburu-Meghatoburu.

One part of this SAIL iron ore mine is in Jharkhand, while other areas are in Orissa. Local SAIL authorities admit that managing the Orissa guest house is extremely easy.

“That guest house is already functioning and we have no difficulty in managing it. There is no political pressure for rooms and food and no ransacking by goons,” sources said. “It is also cost effective for SAIL to manage the Orissa guest house,” sources said.

Local SAIL officials said the cost of the maintenance of the new guest house in Orissa was reasonable compared to the Meghalaya House. “Politicians wanted food of their choice and we were forced to supply it. If we failed, they threw tantrums and intimidated the staff. Ultimately, it took its toll on SAIL’s budget earmarked for running the guest house,” sources said.

The sources added, “In Orissa, the scenario in vastly different. There is no pressure on us from any political party or government.’’