The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation sealed a garba venue on its plot near Jagatpur-Gota Road on October 15 after officials found that organisers had held events for four days without depositing the required ₹40 lakh in rent and security money, according to AMC authorities. The venue, operated under the name ‘Faliyu’, was using an AMC plot in the Gota ward for Navratri celebrations. The amount due comprised ₹21 lakh in rent and ₹19 lakh as a security deposit. AMC authorities said the payment had not been made even though garba events had continued for four days. The matter came to the attention of the Estate Department in AMC’s North West Zone on October 14. A civic team then reached the site on the morning of October 15 and sealed the plot while garba activities were under way. The Standing Committee chairman said AMC plots are allotted for garba events during Navratri and that organisers are expected to deposit the prescribed amount before permission is granted for use. The allotment process is conducted online, according to the report. The episode has raised questions within the civic administration about how the venue began operating without confirmation of the required payment. It has also raised questions about the roles of the Estate Department’s central office, the North West Zone’s deputy estate officer and the inspector assigned to the Gota ward. The report said officials are examining how the venue was allowed to remain operational for four days without the payment being recorded, and why the issue was not detected earlier. Organisers were reportedly charging attendees between ₹500 and ₹4,000 for entry to the garba event. The civic authorities are now also examining whether the organisers had obtained a fire No Objection Certificate, or NOC, required for the event. Officials said the fire-safety approval would be part of the investigation. If the inquiry finds that the organisers operated without the required fire NOC or other permissions, further action may follow. The sealing of the site places the focus on two separate compliance questions: whether the organisers had fulfilled the financial conditions for using public land, and whether all safety permissions had been secured before large public gatherings were held. The authorities have not, in the supplied report, stated whether the outstanding ₹40 lakh was subsequently paid or whether any action had been taken against individual officials. The AMC’s investigation into the allotment, payment records and fire-safety permissions is expected to determine the next steps.
