Mangaluru : Mangaluru City Corporation Mayor Kavitha Sanil, in anticipation of approval from the Council had given permission for slashing the rates from July 1.

The mayor said that at a meeting convened by her on June 17, the artistes had highlighted their problems due to exhorbitant rate, revision of period of advance booking from six months to two months. “In the interest of the artistes, I have given an approval for reducing advance booking rates and rent of the Town Hall. The slash in rent and deposit will come into effect from July 1 and I have also directed the officials not to make any discrimination in the period of advance booking for marriages and cultural programmes and make it uniform,” she said.

Justifying her move for not placing the agenda of revision of rents before the Standing Committee on Taxation, Finance and Appeals, she said that if it is placed before the committee, then it will delay the process by five months and will not benefit the artistes during this monsoon.

The president of Standing Committee on Taxation, Finance and Appeals Prathibha Kulai and commotion created by ruling party members, the Mangaluru City Corporation council gave approval for slashing the advance booking rates and rent for the Town Hall auditorium.

As the agenda for slashing the rates for Town Hall booking was read out by chief whip Shashidhar Hegde, president of Standing Committee on Taxation, Finance and Appeals Prathibha Kulai raised objection and said that the issue was not discussed in the committee.

“If the mayor is only taking the decision then what is the need for the committee,” she asked and said that members are not given respect in the council and walked out of the meeting. Member Deepak Poojary wanted to know the expenses incurred by the MCC in maintaining Town Hall per day.

Welcoming the move of the mayor, BJP corporator Roopa D Bangera said home-grown artistes will benefit from it. The loopholes in the technical snags in sound, light system, seating arrangements needs to be set right, she said.
New rates

At present, rent and deposit for free Yakshagana show, play, Talamaddale, cultural programmes, Harikathe, felicitation, Bharatanatyam, magic and other programmes is Rs 10,000 (rent) and Rs 15,000 deposit in non-AC category while the rent is Rs 45,000 and deposit Rs 15,000 in AC category. The revised rate is Rs 5,000 (rent), Rs 5,000 (deposit) in non-AC category and Rs 25,000 (rent) and Rs 10,000 (deposit) in AC category.

For the entry ticket show of Yakshagana, the present rent and deposit in non AC category was Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively while in AC category it was Rs 55,000 (rent) and Rs 30,000 (deposit). This has been revised to Rs 10,000 (rent), Rs 5,000 (deposit) in non AC category while Rs 35,000 (rent) and Rs 15,000 (deposit) in AC category.

The present rent and deposit for play and magic show with entry ticket in non AC category is Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively while it was Rs 55,000 (rent) and 30,000 (deposit) in AC category. This has been slahed to Rs 10,000 (rent), Rs 5,000 (deposit) in non-AC category and Rs Rs 35,000 (rent) and Rs 15,000 (deposit) in AC category.

The present rent and deposit for all musical shows in non AC category was Rs 30,000 and Rs 45,000 respectively while it was Rs 55000 (rent) and Rs 30,000 (deposit) in AC category. The revised rent and deposit in non AC category is Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 while in AC category it is Rs 35,000 and Rs 15,000.

The present rent and deposit for all other private programmes in non-AC category is Rs 30,000 and Rs 45,000 respectively, while it was Rs 55,000 and Rs 30,000 in AC category.

The revised rent and deposit in non-AC category is Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. In AC category, it has been slashed to Rs 35,000 (rent) and Rs 10,000 (deposit).