shut cinema hall
Kolkata : Several single-screen cinema halls across the city have been served urgent notices by the police commissioner under the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation of Public Exhibitions) Rules, 1956. On Aug 5, 2018, a fire broke out at a shop below Priya Cinema and the owners had made sure they had all the compliance certificate in place. Vidisha Basu of Prachi said, “I received the notice on Sept 2 from the local police station.
Saha also told TOI that similar notices have been served to Prachi and Basusree. We have submitted all the certificates,” said Arijit Dutta of Priya. The directives mandate that halls submit valid fire safety and electrical installation inspection certificates within seven days, failing which they face immediate closure. Two prominent single screens — Minar and Society — have shut down after being served the notice. Footfalls have dwindled significantly, and upgrading these spaces costs lakhs of rupees, leaving many to wonder how to move forward when the current business model cannot support such heavy investments. “Society has already been shut down. He has assured that the matter will be resolved. Based on the notice, cinemas and multiplexes are directed not to run without a valid fire safety certificate from the fire department and an up-to-date electrical installation inspection certificate from the electricity directorate. Additionally, they have been instructed to submit copies of both certificates within seven days from the receipt of the memo, failing which strict action will be taken. Priya cinema too has been served a notice. “Back then, we overhauled everything. I have the fire licence and have already submitted it to the police station.”
With one theatre has already been shuttered and others hanging in the balance, prominent industry stakeholders stepped in, holding a high-level meeting with the fire and emergency services minister on Thursday to resolve the crisis. Keeping me in the loop, exhibitors approached the fire minister on Thursday.