The Konkan divisional commissioner has formed 58 flying squads to keep tab on New Year events to check if organisers have obtained the required permission. To conduct an event, organisers are required to pay entertainment tax.
These flying squads will make surprise visits at various venues in the city and suburbs, Thane and Raigad district. A team will have four to five revenue officials headed by deputy collectors, Tahsildars and Naib Tahsildars of respective districts.
All collectorates have issued circulars to hotels, clubs, gyms, auditoriums, halls, lawns, etc where entertainment programmes are held on New Year's eve, directing their owners to pay entertainment tax and get approval for hosting parties.
Dilip Shinde, deputy commissioner, Entertainment, Konkan division, said: "It's mandatory to take permission from collector's office for such events. Those violating rules will be penalised."
"So far, 103 approvals have been given for New Year's eve programmes in Konkan division (Mumbai city 18, Mumbai suburb 46, Thane 24 and Raigad 5). The number of organisers who have to date approached the collectorate is way low compared to last year. More are likely to seek permission as the day approaches," added Shinde.
Devidas Chaudhari, deputy collector (Entertainment), Mumbai City, said: "The collector's office had called a meeting of hoteliers, clubs, private societies and groups organising New Year events in Mumbai city. Over 30 are believed to have attended it."
Radheshyam Mopalwar, Konkan divisional commissioner, said: "The reason for deploying flying squads, which will start their work early in the evening, is to track people who evade entertainment tax. FIRs will be lodged against those who violate rules. But we will avoid video-recording as party-goers feel it's a trespass on their privacy. However, it will be done if we feel the number of guests has exceeded the allowed limit."
Abhijit Bangar, collector, Palghar, said: "It's the first New Year after the formation of the district. We will make sure all party organisers pay entertainment tax."
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