Pizza Hut in spat with outlet land owners

Pizza Hut's Ludhiana outlet on Ferozepur Road and the owners of the land where the outlet stands are in dispute over lease extension.

According to the land owner, Ashok Batra, who also owns the Batra Hotel, adjoining to the Pizza Hut, this area was given on lease to Pizza Hut authorities three years back and so the lease expires on March 31, 2006.

As per contract, we were to inform the Pizza Hut authorities for vacating this land six months in advance. But we informed them one year in advance since they have generated losses for us in these three years.

Now when the date of the expiry of contract is coming closer, the Pizza Hut authorities are harassing us by not paying their electricity bill, which amounts to Rs 1.44 lakh.

Due to non-payment of th is bill, I disconnected the power supply to Pizza Hut on March 20 and that is why they have registered a case for stay order in the District Courts Ludhiana.''

Batra said the Pizza Hut kitchen drainpipe leaked occasionally causing damage.