A day after Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) imposed a cap on the number of attendees in weddings, funerals and other functions , hundreds of members of catering services, Tent house, flower, DJ light and sound association on Tuesday staged a demonstration in the city.
The members of the association gheraoed the BMC headquarters in protest of the revised guidelines which restricts the number of attendees in weddings, thread ceremonies and funerals to 50. During the protest, the association members also blocked the main road demanding immediate withdrawal of the BMC order.
“When Covid-19 was at peak, we strictly followed all the guidelines of the State government. Later, we staged a protest at Lower PMG when our business and livelihood started getting affected, Following this, the government had allowed 250 guests in functions and social gatherings. However, BMC yesterday issued fresh guidelines and imposed a cap of 50 persons which is totally not justified,” said a protestor.
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Another protestor said, “We are opposing the BMC order as following SRC’s directive, we had started taken advances from clients. Now it is practically not possible on our part to return the money as we have utilised on procurement of articles to organise the events.”
The association members said that there are over 20 lakh families who eke out a living by rending their services in catering, tent, DJ Sound and Light across the State.
“In malls and other public places, hundreds of people are allowed and congregating. We are opposing the BMC decision as it is directly affecting our lives,” the association member alleged.
Meanwhile, the BMC officials could not be contacted on the matter.
(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)