Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has imposed stricter restriction on gatherings and capped attendance at marriage ceremonies to just 50 persons. In another important development on Thursday, city police are empowered to take action in cases of violation of the new norms. Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B, on Thursday, issued a fresh notification about curtailing invitees numbers at the functions after city recorded a significant rise in COVID-19 positive cases. Invoking the powers vested with him under the Epidemic Prevention Act 1897, Municipal Commissioner said the new norms are applicable for both indoor as well as outdoor functions without any discrimination. The notification issued by the civic body stated, the rising cases of Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, whose transmission rate is on higher side, the new norms are put in place for larger interest of citizens. Marriage and other private functions see large gathering and there is total disregard to norms of COVID-19, like social distancing and wearing of face masks. Given the danger involved in view of current situation, Commissioner said it was necessary to curtail attendance of large number of people in one place.

 

The notification further advised people to opt for low key celebrations and any violations would be dealt with sternly. Already administration has talked of imposing hefty fines upto Rs. 10,000 on administrators of lawns or hall where capacity violation is detected. Civic notification made it mandatory for administrators to notify respective Zonal Office of NMC about the marriage or any other private function being held at hall or on lawns 15-days in advance. Surprise checks should be conducted by local police or civic offices at halls and lawns to ensure COVID-19 norms are being followed in toto. Similarly, the notification mentioned that in case of detection of violation on first count a fine of Rs. 25,000 will be imposed on owner of hall/lawn.

 

For violation, the establishment could also be sealed by the civic administration. Also, offences under relevant section of prevailing Act would also be considered. For the establishment owners stringent norms like ensuring sanitizers at site and also thermal screening of invitees and ensuring that only those persons are allowed entry who have taken both the doses of vaccine is made compulsory.