TRICHY: Trichy corporation has found that seven out of eight cinema theatres and multiplexes functioning in the city have not renewed their sanitary certificates in the last three years. A fine of ₹50,000 was levied on a multiplex for operating without renewing the mandatory certificate, while other theatres were instructed to renew it and pay penalties. The local body has urged the movie halls to ensure that people are subjected to thermal screening and wear facemasks in the wake of a marginal surge in Covid cases.
According to the urban local body, of the eight theatres and multiplexes in the city, which function with 17 screens, only one has renewed the sanitary certificate. The certificate must be renewed once a year. After receiving the application, a health team from Trichy Corporation would inspect the amenities, including toilets and washbasins, to renew the certificate.
Officials said the cost to renew the sanitary certificate was only around ₹1,000 per year. However, most of the theatres have not renewed the certificate even before the onset of the pandemic. “A penalty of Rs 50,000 was levied on a multiplex and three days were given to other theatres to renew it. We are considering penalising the violators to ensure that they will not function without required certificates,” city health officer Dr M Yazhini told TOI.
While responding to a question on the inaction of the civic body on violations although a few years have elapsed, officials said that they could not verify the certificates because of the pandemic situation and mega anti-Covid vaccination programme. As part of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, the movie halls have been directed to use breathalysers instead of asking the visitors to breathe out to check whether they have consumed alcohol. “Theatres can afford breathalyser to verify their doubts if a person visiting the premises is drunk. The other way involves risks of transmission of communicable diseases,” said the city health officer.
