Jharkhand Government is not in hurry to casually implement many of the relaxations prescribed in the unlockdown phase 5.0 including reopening of cinema halls from October 15.
In the guidelines issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs permitted movie theatres to reopen with percent capacity. Relaxations are allowed for theatre fall outside containment zones.
“We are still left with 11 days to think and assess whether or not cinema halls will be opened from October 15. We can’t take any decision in haste. We have to assess the ground situation first. In the unlockdown phase 5.0 central government has recommended opening of cinema halls. But this is upon the state government to take a final decision,” said secretary of the state health department Nitin Madan Kulkarni.
Sources in the Government said that the Government is more concerned about the Durga puja festival that is set to start from October 17.
“The Government has issued guidelines for Durga Puja and it will be a challenging job to ensure strict implementation of guidelines including social distancing. Huge manpower will be involved in maintaining law and order besides health protocols. The puja duration will be crucial for us and we are preoccupied with our plans and operation,” said an official of the government.
Sources said that it is likely that from November 15 cinema halls across Jharkhand may be opened.
But owners and staff of cinema halls and multiplexes said that at a time when shopping malls have been permitted, the entertainment sector should also be allowed as early as possible.
“The lockdown which has almost completed six months we have been facing an unprecedented economic crisis. People are becoming unemployed. There is a large scale job cut. We have to pay for establishment costs without having any revenue generation,” said a staff member of one of the multiplexes of Ranchi.
They are worried over future prospects like the fear of Covid 19 that may keep away people from cinema halls coupled with the fact that cinema halls will operate only with 50 percent capacity. Also, the establishment cost is set to increase as regular sanitisation will be made mandatory.