The GVMC (Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation)has warned contractors to whom kalyanamantapams have been leased out not to collect exorbitant fee for performing marriages.
While the kalyanamantapams have to collect Rs.3,000 towards rent and Rs.500 for maintenance, there have been complaints that thousands of rupees is being collected. The hiring was also being linked to lighting, decoration, furniture, etc and instead of giving it to the poor those who were quoting a higher price were being favoured, Municipal Commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana said at a meeting with contractors of the mantapams on Tuesday.
He told them that the mantapams were constructed to help the poor pay minimum charges and perform functions. Commercialising them would defeat the purpose, he said.
If they continue with their ways, the contracts would be cancelled and the maintenance would be handed over to zone commissioners. Mr. Satyanarayana asked the contractors to display the details of rent and other details like availability on boards.
Of the 38 kalyanamantapams, the GVMC has given 28 on lease to contractors. Deputy Commissioner Revenue (DCR) R. Somannarayana and zone commissioners Sivjai, Srirama Murthy, Viswanath, Vijayalakshmi and Sanyasi Naidu participated.
