Revival script for dying cinemas

Jamshedpur, Oct. 1: With the state government showing an interest in reviving the dying cinema industry, the sector might see better days ahead. During a recent meeting with a delegation of the Jharkhand Cinema Exhibitors Association (JCEA), the chief minister is learnt to have accepted some of the proposals made by the association to revive the industry.

Disclosing this here today, JCEA president Hari Narayan Parikh, who headed a five-member delegation, said that two major problems faced by cinema hall owners — tax levied on cinema maintenance and ceiling on ticket rates — had been resolved. The chief minister has assured the delegation to look into the issue and take suitable action in the first week of October. “We are expecting a government notification soon in this connection,” said Parikh.

Other issues which came up for discussion at the meeting were revision and reconsideration of compounding tax which Parikh described as exorbitant and an unnecessary burden on cinema hall owners.

“In the present situation every cinema hall owners operating in the state is required to deposit a minimum of Rs 1 lakh as compounding tax to the sale tax authorities every week, irrespective of its earning. This is proving to be an extra burden on the hall owners and the chief minister has assured to look into the problem,” said Parikh. He has also appealed to the chief minister to scrap the norm of screening of news reel at the beginning of the shows.

On behalf of the association Parikh assured the chief minister and the commissioner of commercial taxes to extend all help to the government to save the industry.

Parikh while addressing cinema hall owners here today urged them to improve the services at the cinema halls. He also directed the hall owners to feel at liberty to increase or decrease the number of seats at the cinema halls as per their convenience.