40 teams of officials to drop in on New Year bashes to check permits

In a meeting with hoteliers on Wednesday, the EDD officials also issued guidelines for party organisers, giving strict instructions to arrange security measures for women.u00a0

"After the incident at international DJ Dash Berlin's show, which was held without the state home ministry's permission, we have directed hotel owners to take police's permission and then approach our department for a no-objection certificate (NOC)," said EDD chief Mohini Chavan.

She added that the teams consist of officers of the rank of deputy collector, other than employees of the department. The teams would visit any party venue to check if it has the police's permits.

Until now, the department has received 25 applications seeking NOCs to host a New Year's party. The officials, who collect these applications, told MiD DAY that the department has got only one application asking permission to organise an event where international artists would perform.

"We are planning to send our teams to check parties hosted at farmhouses in remote areas of the district. It has been observed that such parties are arranged secretly and tickets are sold in small groups.

But it is necessary for these events also pay tax to the department if they are selling tickets for entry," added Chavan.

The president of Pune Restaurants and Hoteliers Association, Ganesh Shetty, said, "Police generally do not give permission for parties, considering the law and order situation in the district. Besides, there are a lot of formalities the EDD requires. Annoyed, our 450 members have stopped organising events."

Organisers' checklist
> NOC from entertainment duty department
> NOC from city or rural police
> 20 per cent tax on total number of tickets sold in city; 15 per cent in rural areas
> Rs 5,000 fee, if the party would have a disc jockeyu00a0