The Kozhikode Municipal Corporation’s decision to increase the rent of major halls and auditoriums under the corporation, besides open spaces used for public meetings, has kicked up wide-spread protests. Besides various political organisations, artistes and service organisations have come out openly against the decision, alleging it will make small-scale public programmes unaffordable to many.
The corporation council had taken the decision to hike the rent for the Town Hall at Mananchira, Tagore Centenary Hall on Red Cross Road, Jubilee Hall at Tali, S.K. Pottekkad Hall at Puthiyara, and the Community Hall at Karuvisseri at the council meeting on November 28. In most cases, the revised rent is three times that of the existing one. The Town Hall, which was available for ₹1,416 for a whole day, will now be available at ₹4,130 inclusive of service charge and 18% GST. The Tagore Centenary Hall, which was available for full day programmes at ₹39,530, will now be available at ₹94,400. The full day rent of Jubilee Hall has been hiked from ₹3,363 to ₹10,384. The rent also varies depending upon the programmes. Half-day rents too seem to have undergone a similar hike.
The rent for open spaces such as Muthalakkulam ground, Mananchira Open Stage, Karuviseri Community Park, Vikram Memorial Ground at Kannancheri, Open stage at Kuttichira, and grounds at Mankavu, Thiruvannur, Chelavoor and Perunthuruthi have also been increased manifold. Muthalakkulam Ground, which was available for ₹59 will now be available at ₹1,380.
Major source of income
The council noted that the corporation had to suffer a huge loss in terms of entertainment tax and advertisement tax that had been taken away from the local bodies recently. Hence, all major modes of income needed to be revisited. Renting out halls and open spaces is a major mode of income for the corporation. However, the rents for these, fixed many years ago, is much low compared to those for private ones.
The artiste’s fraternity has complained that the corporation was withdrawing from its moral responsibility to support artistes. Public spaces in the city are increasingly becoming inaccessible for art, said organisations of artistes such as Nattuvelicham and Natak. The Purogamana Kalasahitya Sangham and District Consumer Forum have asked the Corporation to roll back the rents.
