Of 29 Dasehra events in Amritsar, only 7 had nod

Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 20

The local SDM and the Municipal Corporation have confirmed that Mithu Madan, Congress leader and son of area councillor Vijay Madan, had not applied for permission to organise the Dasehra event at Dhobi Ghat. He, however, had been allowed to hold a public gathering and use a public address system by the SHO, Mohkampura. Mithu had also written to the MC to provide a water tanker and a fire tender.

Vikas Heera, SDM, said: “The organisers had not applied for approval from the administration, which is mandatory.”

Nine major and 20 minor Dasehra events were organised in the city on Friday. Only four Dasehra committees had taken permission from the MC’s Estate Office, two from the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) and one from the Army (Durgiana Management Committee’s event was held on land belonging to the Army).

Sushant Bhatia, Estate Officer, said: “Organisers at Chheharta, Focal Point, Haripura and Bhadar Kali were given permission. No other committee approached us.”

Rajiv Sekhri, Superintending Engineer, Amritsar Improvement Trust, said: “Two committees submitted security bonds and were given the go-ahead.” Sonali Giri, MC Commissioner, said: “We can act under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, but the CM has already ordered a magisterial probe.”

Rules governing public events

• Permission from owner of land where the event is planned (MC and Improvement Trust in most cases)
• Intimate the police and get permission for assembly and using loudspeakers (as per specified timings)
• If case a stage is to be erected, a certificate from the PWD is required
• Intimate Health Department to depute team for medical emergency 

MC norms for giving approval 

• No damage should be caused to public/MC Property
• No objection against the event by anyone
• Provisional nod is given on condition that approval is also taken from district administration and police
• In case of negligence, the MC can act under Punjab Municipal Corporation Act
• In case of a complaint, the MC can file FIR