Cinemas with limit from October 1, tweets CM

 The permission is 'subject to adherence to physical distancing norms, wearing of masks & compliance to precautionary protocols'

Subhajoy Roy   |   TT   |   Calcutta   |   27.09.20  :  Cinemas, jatras, open-air theatres, and some other performing arts activities will be allowed in the state from October 1 with 50 or fewer people in attendance, chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted on Saturday evening.

The permission is “subject to adherence to physical distancing norms, wearing of masks & compliance to precautionary protocols”, she said in the tweet at 8.43pm.

All these activities have remained closed since the Centre announced a nationwide lockdown in March because of the pandemic.

The four unlock phases till now, too, haven’t allowed the opening of these activities apart from open air-theatres, which have been allowed to function from September 21.

The Unlock 4 guidelines issued by the home ministry on August 29 said cinemas, swimming pools, entertainent parks, theatres and similar places would remain closed.

“However, open-air theatres will be permitted to run from September 21,” the guidelines had said.

The Centre’s guidelines have primacy over the state’s during the pandemic, according to the disaster management act,  a central government official said.

People associated with cinemas, jatras, theatres have had a tough time as they haven’t had any income for six months because of the situation triggered by the pandemic.

Company owners are under financial duress and employees are struggling to make ends meet, a theatre professional said.

Jatras are traditionally performed in the open. Plays, too, can be performed in the open.

Moreover, with up to 50 people being allowed, there should be scope for following distancing rules.

The only contentious case is the reopening of cinemas and if magic shows, musicals, plays and dances are performed in a closed environment.

Although the chief minister’s tweet did not elaborate on these matters, theatre professionals said they expected the government to soon come out with clear guidelines.