With the wedding season rolling out, it is learnt that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has levied “scrutiny fee” on open air halls or lawns of hotels and resorts in the coastal regulation zone areas.
In most probability the hotels and resorts which operate the open-air halls and lawns will pass on the so-called “scrutiny fee” to the consumer who happens to be the common man.
The question that arises is what is a “scrutiny fee”? What is the purpose of levying such a fee?
It is pertinent to note that the rates of wedding halls and lawns can be prohibitive and there seems to be no control on the amount that is being charged for an event.
Due to sound restriction weddings tend to wind up early as the band stops playing beyond the stipulated time. The rate charged for occupying the wedding hall for a couple of hours turns out to be the major expenditure of a wedding reception.
At times the common man can ill afford to pay such an exorbitant fee. A control on the rates charged by wedding halls seems necessary.
