SHILLONG : The East Khasi Hills district administration has initiated action against the organisers of a recent fishing competition at Mawryngkneng after the event allegedly resulted in public nuisance and traffic violations.
Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said on Tuesday that the organisers have been served show-cause notices and that the police have been directed to register FIRs over alleged violations of the conditions imposed while granting permission for the event.
“As far as the Mawryngkneng incident is concerned, we have basically issued show-cause notice to both organisers and simultaneously directed the police to register an FIR against organisers for violation of the conditions laid down in the permission and also FIR for public nuisance under the Motor Vehicles Act,” Baranwal said.
Stricter checks planned for private events
The administration is now working on a stricter mechanism for granting permission to private events in the district.
Baranwal said organisers will be required to provide sufficient information about proposed events well in advance so that the administration can properly assess their potential impact.
“What we will do in future, we are working on a direction that organisers in future will have to give sufficient information in advance. We will have a practice of joint inspection,” he said.
At present, inspections are conducted by the Block office. However, the administration plans to introduce a joint inspection system involving multiple departments and local authorities.
Police, Dorbar Shnong and Fisheries Department to inspect
Under the proposed mechanism, representatives from the police, Dorbar Shnong, civil administration and Fisheries Department will jointly inspect venues before permission is granted.
“As of now inspection is done by the Block office, but we will constitute a joint inspection where representatives from police, Dorbar Shnong, civil administration and the Fisheries department will go together,” Baranwal said.
The administration is also considering introducing penalties against organisers if private events result in public nuisance.
“We are also working out a mechanism on how imposition of some kind of penalty can be introduced in case public nuisance is caused by such private events,” the DC added.
The move comes after the Mawryngkneng fishing competition attracted large crowds and reportedly caused disruption, prompting the district administration to review how such private events are regulated and monitored across East Khasi Hills.