Govt issues Guest Control order to check indiscreet use of essential commodities

Bans use of loud speakers, amplifiers, crackers in social, official functions

5 Dariya News

Jammu 21-Feb-2017

The Government today issued “Guest Control Order” to impose restrictions on injudicious use of essential commodities during social, government and private functions, besides putting complete ban on use of amplifiers, loud speakers, and fire crackers in such functions.This information was given by the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Choudhary Zulfkar Ali at a press conference here today.The Minister said the order was issued after the department received complaints and representations, both from civil as well as social organizations regarding injudicious use of essential commodities and exuberant expenditures made in public and private functions.He said taking cognizance of the complaints, the department issued Order No: 39-FCS&CA of 2017, under which there shall be complete ban on sending dry fruits, sweet packets with invitation cards by any person to relatives, friends, guests etc.Mr Zulfkar Ali informed that limited number of guests would be allowed to be invited for on marriage ceremonies. “The number of guests to be invited on marriage of daughter including baraat should be restricted to a maximum of 500, while for marriage of son, the number should not exceed 400. For functions like ring ceremony of son, daughter and other small functions the number of guests invited should be 100 only,” the Minister said.He added as per order, number of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes should be restricted to a maximum of seven each, besides, two stalls of sweets or ice cream.Assuring strict implementation of the order, the Minister said; “The law is same for everyone, and would be applied to all, irrespective, of his/her status in the society.”

The Minister said keeping in view that many people have already distributed the invitation cards, and have made arrangements as per the invitation, therefore, a buffer period of 40 days is given to them and the order would be applicable from April 1, 2017.To put a check on the wastage of leftover food in the functions, the Minister said it should be ensured that there is no wastage of any sort of food items, uncooked or cooked during such functions. He said if there is some surplus food, it should not be wasted by throwing it into bin, but should be provided to the needy people.He added that no plastic or indecomposable material should be thrown in open field, and the same should be collected in separate dustbin and shall be disposed of properly by the host, organizer.Besides, the Minister informed there shall be a complete ban on use of big generator set, high pitch sound amplifiers, loud speakers, decks, profuse lightning, bursting of crackers in social as well as government functions.The Minister said it will save the general public from the inconvenience of noise pollution and air pollution caused by the various gadgets. He also sought public support to make the initiative a grand success.Secretary, FCS&CA, Shafiq Ahmad Raina, Special Secretary, FCS&CA, Nissar Wani, and other concerned officers were present in the conference.