Shaadi barbaadi: AMC shuts down party plots

AHMEDABAD: If you are planning to get married soon, better start hunting for a venue outside the city limits or be prepared to pay through your nose.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Friday sealed 79 of the 300-odd party plots in Ahmedabad. In the next few days more plots will be sealed, said AMC officials.
This move has caused immense problems to soon-to-be brides and grooms.
Amit Chand, 26, had booked a party plot near Dharnidhar Derasar for his wedding in November. After the AMC crackdown, Chand has started hunting for a new venue for his marriage party. “I had booked the plot four months in advance. If the venue is sealed in the current drive, it would be a problem as it is very difficult to find an alternate venue for an elaborate wedding,” says Chand.
The problem is that most of the party plots are unauthorised. None of the building plans of these party venues have been cleared by the AMC.
Around 300 party plots in the city host an average 30-40 marriages during the wedding season. Navratri celebrations are also held at these venues. In this regard, both the state government and plot owners have approached the Supreme Court.
Of the 79 party plots sealed by the AMC, 42 are in the western parts of the city. The civic body’s move has come as an opportunity for some clubs to make quick bucks. Sharma family in Shahibaugh was forced to cancel their booking for a plot at Motera as they did not want to take any chance since the baraat is coming from Delhi. They had to shell out an extra Rs 50,000 for booking a club in Bopal for the wedding.
AMC had given a deadline of July 15 to unauthorised owners to shut operations. Deputy municipal commissioner UC Padiya said, “The crackdown will continue for the next few days. All these plots are unauthorised and are being sealed in accordance with Justice Mehta committee report. We have directed them not to rent out the plots before the matter is settled.”
Nikunj Patel, owner of Shakmba party plot which was sealed on Friday, said, “AMC decision will affect 30 families who have booked the plot in advance. Now, we do not have any option but to cancel the bookings.”