Hyderabad police issue tough guidelines for New Year parties

Hyderabad: The three commissionerates of Hyderabad police on Wednesday issued guidelines to be followed by revellers and the entire hospitality staff and event organisers on the eve of New Year.  

Event organisers and their staff at the venue of New Year eve parties in the city should be tested negative for Covid-19 in the last 48 hours and the customers must show a double vaccination certificate at entrance, according to the guidelines issued by Hyderabad police chief C.V. Anand to all hotels, clubs and pubs. Similar guidelines were issued by police commissioners of Rachakonda and Cyberabad, Mahesh Bhagwat and Stephen Ravindra respectively, to be followed in their commissionerate jurisdiction as well.

Those who are planning to hold parties till 1 am on the eve of New Year should apply for a ‘temporary amusement license’ to the police commissioner of Hyderabad at least two days before the event, said the official.

Issuing guidelines to the managements of three-star and above rated hotels, clubs and pubs, Anand said the organisers and management should ensure that physical distancing within the venue should be maintained and no person without mask should be allowed. They should also ensure that IR thermometers/thermal scanners are arranged at the entry points and nobody shall be permitted without production of either electronic or physical certificate of both doses of vaccination.

“The licensee should personally and responsibly ensure that passes/tickets/coupons should not be sold/issued/given in excess of the capacity which violates Covid protocols and social distancing in view of the safety of all. A fine of Rs 1,000 for not wearing a mask in public spaces will be imposed on people. All the necessary steps should be taken by the organisers to ensure that the attendees/invitees are well aware of relevant information, regulations and restrictions in vogue beforehand. Regular announcements/visual display arrangements can be made, to that effect, at the venue. More staff should be engaged at the higher-risk areas where crowds are likely to form, such as concession stands/bars, toilets, lifts, corridors, walkways and entry/exit points and at standing performances for proper adherence to the Covid norms. All the staff and organisers present at the venue should be tested negative for Covid-19 in the last 48 hours,” said the official.

The guideline further said the organiser shall ensure to provide surgical masks to all the persons at the venue and shall provide sanitisers/handrub as per the prescribed norms and specifications. The organiser shall also ensure that the premises and potentially contaminated areas should be cleaned and disinfected before the start of the programme. Proper Covid appropriate hygiene shall be ensured for all edible items and cutlery etc., he said.

Proper parking space must for NY bashes

Those who are organising parties on New Year eve should ensure parking of all vehicles inside the premises of the establishment and not allow parking on the main road, said the guidelines issued by the three police commissioners in the city.

Those applying for licenses to hold New Year parties on December 31 night should appoint adequate number of security guards and brief them on systematic parking inside the premises and also to regulate traffic in front of the entry and exit gates and also take proper security measures inside the venue. There should be separate gates for entry and for exit, they said while issuing the guidelines on Wednesday.

“It is the responsibility of the management of pubs/bars to make necessary arrangements to provide drivers/cabs to the customers who are in a drunken state to reach their destinations safely. The concept of ‘designated driver for a day’, who can safely take home co-passengers without himself/herself indulging in drinking beyond limit to be explained to the customers as well as displayed at prominent places for their safety,” said the guidelines.

Watering holes should display traffic advisory

City police officials issued an advisory which must be displayed by the managements of bars and restaurants, pubs, star hotels at the entrance and inside their venues.

The advisory should read that drunk driving is an offence under section 185 of the M.V. Act and that the permissible limit is 30 mg/100 ml of blood i.e., 30 micrograms/100 ml of blood. Anything above that, as recorded by a breathalyzer, is a violation.

“If you are found driving the vehicle in a drunken condition, a case will be booked against you by the police, wherein if any person with a valid driving license accompanies you, he has to undergo a breath test. If found not inebriated, the vehicle will be given to him, otherwise the vehicle will be shifted to the police station for temporary custody. The owners (respondents) have to come to the police station the next working day along with the original driving license and registration certificate of the vehicle and take back the vehicle. Whenever the police summon you, you should attend the court and the police will file a charge sheet against you,” warned the police officials.  

Speaking of the punishment for drunk driving, officials said the penalty for drunk driving was Rs. 10,000 and/or six months imprisonment, including suspension of driving license for three months and above or permanently. “If minors are found driving vehicles, the owners will be held responsible. Silencers of two wheelers should not be removed and noise pollution should be avoided. The customers should also be informed that driving their vehicles at high speed, driving dangerously and racing in public places will also be punishable under Sections 183 and 184 of the MV Act. SHE teams will be everywhere to keep an eye on those indulging in crime against women and they will be strictly dealt with by law,” added the police.

DJs, junkies to be under scanner

The noise levels, which must be within 45 decibels, should not be heard beyond the premises, and any complaints from the neighbours will be treated seriously, said the guidelines issued by the three police commissioners, adding that no live band should be performed in bars and restaurants.

 “DJs will not be allowed in outdoor events and the noise levels laid under Central Pollution Control Board should be strictly followed. Singers should not go into the crowd but shall be in a separate earmarked place. No vulgarity or no obscene dressing or obscene dances should be allowed. The licensee shall be responsible for preventing use of drugs and psychotropic substances by the participants in the event or on the premises. Organisers should pay special attention to parking areas and other places where drugs are clandestinely sold,” said the officials.

“The responsibility and liability for any loss/damage, nuisance etc. life and property as a sequel to the programme shall solely be of the licensee and any contravention will lead to criminal prosecution besides cancellation of licence in future. The organisers are warned not to display fireworks or allow any firearms at the venue of the event. Any act which is likely to cause disturbance or adversely affect the public safety or create hatred between different classes of people or cause injury to the religious feelings of any person or body of persons is prohibited,” Cyberabad police commissioner Stephen Ravindra said.

It should be the responsibility of the management to ensure that the above conditions are strictly implemented and any violation of the above conditions may result in prosecution and cancellation of the license,” read the guidelines issued by the commissioner.