A cinema hall has been given fresh licence at Jharsuguda overlooking all the safety norms putting the district administration in spot. Replying to the Jharsuguda ADM's letter in the matter of issuing licence to a multiplex-cum-cinema hall in the proposed Santi City Centre, Jharsuguda Assistant Fire Officer vide letter no.187 of January 16 , 2016 clearly recommended to give licence if necessary fire safety arrangements have been made by the cinema hall strictly as per the National Building Code 2005.
To check the fire safety arrangements, a team of officers consisting of Northern Range Fire Officer, Sambalpur, Deputy Fire Officer Sambalpur and AFO, Jharsuguda jointly prepared a report on visiting the site. Feeling the absence of fire safety provisions in Santi City Centre, they advised the management to fulfil all the conditions of NBC code. later, issue of licence to the cinema hall without verifying fulfilment of these conditions however is pointing finger at huge kickbacks and undue favouritism.
Sources said that a greater residential apartment of S+5 is existing just behind Santi City Centre and adjacent to the proposed cinema hall, which does not have any fire fighting arrangements as per the NBC code. This condition has not been fulfilled till date. It is surprising as to how the district administration issued licence to this hall and at whose behest. On the other hand, keeping in view the increased traffic problem for the cinema hall located in Santi City Centre at Sarbahal, the then Superintendent of Police S Saini had recommended not to give licence to this cinema hall.
Considering this opinion, the then District Collector did not issue licence. Provision exists for not issuing licence to a cinema hall, if any educational institution is located within 100 metre of the hall.
In the present case, the existence of Manmohan School within 100 metre distance of the cinema hall was one of the reasons behind not giving licence to the hall. The municipal council also in its resolution passed in the council meeting had intimated the district Collector not to issue licence to the cinema hall.
The local councillors, school management committee, parents council, primary teachers association along with other institutions and general public also requested the district Collector in writing not to give licence to the cinema hall after which the district Collector did not issue licence. But, the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, on an appeal petition by the hall management, cancelled the decision of the district Collector and directed to reconsider the issue as per rules.
later, the district Collector issued licence to the cinema hall two months back.
When contacted, Jharsuguda Fire Officer lalit Sahoo said that the matter regarding following of the NBC guidelines by the cinema hall will be clear only after site visit. However, at no point of time, did the Fire Department recommend for issue of licence to the cinema hall, he clarified.