The Local Administration Department has started receiving applications seeking permission to hold New Year parties. According to sources, the Puducherry Municipality, which has a number of star hotels under its jurisdiction, has received over 20 applications as on Friday seeking permission to hold parties. The Oulgaret municipality has received two applications.
According to an official, “no enclosed place or building, whether permanent or temporary, shall be used for public resort unless a license has been obtained. One should pay an entertainment tax for the conduct of any event on New Year’s eve as stipulated in the Pondicherry Municipality (Entertainment) Rules.” The government has worked out a formula and an entertainment tax of 25% will be collected on one-fourth of the price of tickets as admission fee. All hotels planning to hold events must pay the Entertainment Tax a few days before the event.
With the Excise Department permitting liquor to be served till 1 a.m. on the intervening night of Dec. 31, hotels planning to hold parties have to obtain special permits at ₹5,000 from the municipalities concerned to hold events from 10.30 p.m. to 1.30 a.m. An additional 50% of the Entertainment Tax will be collected as security deposit from the hotel organisers. Flying squads will be deployed to monitor celebrations, the official said.
