Tightening the noose around marriage halls, clubs and banquets recklessly flaunting the set guidelines in the State Capital, the district administration has issued a communiqué clearly mentioning the rules for operating the banquet halls under mandatory clauses.
All the Officers-incharge (OCs) of various police stations have been made responsible to make the owners of banquet, marriage halls and clubs abide by the set regulations. The letters have been issued to all OCs of different police stations to form a team for this.
“The decision has been taken in the public interest. Without taking any stringent step, it is not possible to curb the nuisances like playing loudspeaker, removing traffic jam or assuring clean streets. All the OCs will ensure that the rules are followed under jurisdictions. Actions against all unregistered marriage halls will be taken later,” said Ranchi SDO, Bhor Singh Yadav.
After receiving the instructions, OC of lalpur Police Station, RK Sinha stated that they are prepared and will monitor the operation of clubs, halls during the peak season. Sinha further added a separate team will be formed to monitor this. However, the unauthorised marriage halls, clubs and banquets need to be cracked down immediately as they are the prime cause of chaos.
The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) in 2015 had set norms for banquet halls and clubs’ operation. As per the RMC rules, owners need to submit an application to the civic body to construct a marriage hall and it is mandatory for them to obtain a licence from the RMC. The rules clearly specified that banquet halls should have adequate parking space along with making mandatory for owners to obtain the licence for the halls within the first three months, failing which the clubs or banquets will be declared as unauthorised.
According to an official, RMC received 86 applications for banquet halls in 2015 -16 out of which 56 were accepted. In 2016-17, the Municipal Corporation received eight new applications, out of which only a single application was accepted. In wake of this new order, RMC officer (PR), Naresh Sinha said that letters will be sent to all the registered marriage halls, banquets under RMC to ensure all the regulations that have been prescribed in the letter issued by Ranchi SDO recently are followed. The new rules have been enforced since May 8. Any above mentioned public place found infringing the set guidelines will be penalised under Section 188 for disobeying to order duly promulgated by a public servant. According to norms, it is
now mandatory for all the marriage halls, banquets including clubs to have their own parking space to avoid traffic snarl along the busiest roads.
All the operators of marriage halls, banquets, clubs must deploy plenty of staffs to ensure that vehicles are parked only at a space occupied by the clubs and banquets. Notably, during the marriage seasons in the absence of parking area at specific spots, vehicles are parked on roads causing inconvenience to both motorists and pedestrians.
From ensuring the level of sound played during the marriage ceremony or any procession, the directives also mention that playing music or loudspeaker after 10 pm at ceremonial public places would be considered an offence. Similarly, now all the marriage owners have to sign an agreement stating that crackers or any kind of fire work will not be displayed on roads that increases the chances of untoward incidents.