The UT Administration seems to be in two minds to decide on allowing wedding functions in Bhawans or community halls in Chandigarh.
In a meeting with senior UT officials held on Friday, the Bhawan owners raised several issues requesting to allow them to organise wedding functions on their premises. During the meeting, the Bhawan owners stated that since most of the parks in the city have been converted into green belts, there are only few selected venues for organising wedding functions here. Also, the existing venues — including hotels and community centres here charge a lot for such functions which a common man can not afford. Hence, the Bhawans should be allowed to organise wedding functions, said the representatives from various Bhawans here.
According to a survey of UT Estate office, there are 68 Bhawans in the city. A senior official of UT Estate office said, “There are some apprehensions in allowing the Bhawans to organise weddings. The Bhawans lack sufficient parking space and other safety norms due to lack of space. Their request is under consideration and a decision would be taken soon.”
Few years back, the Estate office had issued notices for the resumption of property to owners of several Bhawans in the city. The land for the Bhawan was allotted to the community for social functions other than weddings. The Estate office had found the land allotted on concessional rates to various social organisations was being misused for commercial activity as most of the Bhawans here organized wedding functions and charged nominal fees.
The owners have also decided to move the Court against UT’s decision.
At present, the Administration allows organising exhibition of handicrafts, sale of goods of Government agencies and holding exams of banks and UPSC in the premises of Bhawans.