File photo for representation.

Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service
Hyderabad, November 23

In a major initiative to help the Telugu film industry, the Telangana Government on Monday allowed the reopening of cinemas, theatres and multiplexes with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity. But this will be applicable in areas outside the containment zones.

Issuing the order on Monday, state Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar cited the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) orders on the same. The MHA orders say management of cinemas, theatres and multiplexes should ensure that all persons including the audience, staff, vendors etc., use masks at all times.

It is the duty of the managements to ensure hand sanitizers at entry/exit points and common areas; following physical distancing and crowd management measures; ensure sanitisation of entire premises particularly common areas after every screening; and that temperature setting of all air conditioning devices be set in the range of 24-30 degree Celsius.

The state government has further asked the managements of the multiplexes to ensure that the relative humidity should be maintained in the range of 40-70 per cent and that re-circulation of air should be avoided and intake of fresh air should be as much as possible.

It may be recalled that a delegation of the Telugu film industry had met Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) at his residence on Sunday and the chief minister had promised to work towards easing their problems.

The Telugu film industry is estimated to have an annual turnover of Rs 1,200 crore and averages between 150 to 200 films every year. Thousands of people are associated with the Telugu film industry.