Odisha: Stir against Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation for cap of guests at social events

BHUBANESWAR: The members of catering, tent, sound, light and band music associations on Tuesday launched a protest in front of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters against the civic body’s move to restrict the number of guests at wedding, thread ceremonies and funeral at 50.
The protesters said when the rest of Odisha followed the norm of allowing 250 people in all functions, including official meetings and conventions, the capital city shouldn’t limit the number of attendees to be 50.
They claimed that restricting the number of guests at social functions has hit their business hard. Jagadish Chandra Maharana, organising secretary of the Odisha Sound and Lights Owners’ Association, said they met the BMC commissioner at his office.
“The commissioner promised us to revisit the norm and make a fresh guideline. Since marriage and related functions will start from November, there is time to tweak the rule and increase the number of guests to 250,” Maharana told TOI.
The BMC on Monday in an order said, “To protect people’s health and prevent the further spread of Covid-19 in the winter season, it has been decided that the total number of attendees in marriage, thread ceremony and funeral will be 50 in the BMC limits.”
The association members said in October last year, the civic body had raised the minimum guest number from 50 to 200 despite the city reporting increased Covid-19 cases. Binay Bhushan Patnaik, president of the All Odisha Catering Association, said they protested the BMC’s move as their business is being affected by the decision. Inspired By