Cuttack: The municipal corporation has decided not to renew the licences of kalyan mandaps (banquet halls) that have failed to comply with its new guidelines during the period of their operation.

In August 2016, the civic body implemented a new policy, approved by the high court, to grant licences to banquet halls.

The guidelines, defining the eligibility criteria for a licence to run a banquet hall, were framed for the first time after the high court made it mandatory to acquire a licence from the Cuttack Municipal Corporation.

The corporation had received around 200 applications for licences. But less than 40 per cent of the kalyan mandaps operating in the city were found to be eligible for licences after field verification following enforcement of the new guidelines.

Cuttack Municipal Corporation deputy commissioner Sarita Dhanwar told The Telegraph on Wednesday that only 67 kalyan mandaps were granted conditional licence for two years (2016-17 and 2017-18).

"Fresh field verification is being done for further renewal of the licence of the 67 kalyan mandaps," Dhanwar said.

Under the new rule, earmarking 40 per cent built-up area of the building for parking had been made "a statutory requirement".

In the case of kalyan mandaps functioning for at least five years, 20 per cent built-up area earmarked for parking was permissible on condition that there would be no parking on public roads.

While granting conditional licence to the 67 kalyan mandaps the owners, as part of their undertakings, were expected to install CCTV cameras, take fire-safety measures and ensure that there was no noise pollution beyond prescribed time and decibel.

"Licences of kalyan mandaps will not be renewed if they have flouted these conditions during the last permit period," Dhanwar said.

Licences was also granted to owners who came up with parking facility for their kalyan mandaps on land on rent or lease.

"The parking criterion will be strictly enforced and penalty imposed on owners of kalyan mandaps where parking is not being done as claimed in their applications," the deputy commissioner said.

Official sources said under the new policy, licence fee for kalyan mandaps ranged between Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 depending on the facilities. The buildings/banquet halls granted licence were assessed as commercial holdings for annual holding tax. The owners also had to pay user fees for solid waste management in advance.

The monthly user fees for kalyan mandaps with 500-plus capacity and above 1000 capacity have been fixed at Rs 4,000 and Rs 8,000, respectively. However, for those owners who pay user fees for a year in advance are being given a month's rebate.

The high court had taken up the case of the functioning of kalyan mandaps as a PIL after a letter petition alleged that parking of vehicles during social events at these halls had been a growing menace as most of them did not have parking areas and dumped garbage on the roadside as none of them had a solid waste disposal system.