GUWAHATI: With no
films set to release anytime soon and overburdened by heavy power dues, the All
Assam Cinema Halls Owners’ Association has decided not to open movie halls till November 13.
The association stated that it would be of no use to reopen the halls without new movies. “We have to wait till Mumbai resumes work since because people will not come to watch old films,” the president of the association,
Chinoy Sarma, said.
Besides, he said, “Power dues have been a major challenge for the
hall owners as theatres remained shut for seven months due to the Covid outbreak.”
“The operators have to pay a fixed charge for electricity consumption. Now, a penalty has been levied on them for non-use of electricity. Eventually, the halls have not been able to pay these dues following which
the power department has disconnected the electricity connection of about 15 of 78 halls,” he added.
Talking about the government’s order to operate with 50% capacity, Sarma said, “There are a number of small halls. To run these with just 50% capacity is not viable. The owners will have to shut the halls if the government does not come up with any relief.”
Saying that the association had called upon the state cultural affairs minister in this matter, he said, “We have requested the government to consider the power factor and related issues. He has assured us that the he will do something. So, we are thinking of reopening the halls from November 14 and hope that the government will come up with a solution by that time.”
It is pertinent to mention that there are about 78 cinema halls across the state; of which 20 are in the city where thousands of people depend for livelihood. The cinema halls and multiplexes have remained closed since March this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdowns.
The government issued an order on October 14 evening allowing cinema halls and multiplexes outside the containment zones with a maximum 50% capacity to reopen from the next day.
(With inputs from Mukut Das)