The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation sealed the venue of the ‘Faliyu’ garba event at its Jagatpur-Gota Road plot on 15 October after organisers allegedly held four days of celebrations without paying ₹40 lakh due to the civic body. The outstanding amount comprised ₹21 lakh in rent and ₹19 lakh as a security deposit, according to details attributed to the AMC’s standing committee chairman.
The plot, located in the Gota ward and leased for the Navratri event, was sealed by an AMC team on the morning of 15 October. The corporation’s north-west zone estate department became aware of the unpaid amount on 14 October, after which action was initiated at the site.
The reported lapse has raised questions about how the event was allowed to continue for four days without confirmation that the required payment had been deposited. AMC’s process for allotting plots for garba events is conducted online, and approval is supposed to follow payment of the prescribed rent and deposit. The reported case has therefore placed the role of the corporation’s central estate department, the north-west zone deputy estate officer and the Gota ward inspector under scrutiny.
The organisers were reportedly charging attendees between ₹500 and ₹4,000 for entry to the event. However, the civic body had not received the rent and deposit linked to the use of its plot during the four-day period, as stated in the report. The AMC’s action has stopped the use of the municipal property for the event, although the supplied report does not provide details of any recovery notice, penalty or further action against the organisers.
The corporation is also examining whether the organisers had obtained the fire No Objection Certificate required for the garba venue. AMC authorities said the matter would be investigated. If the inquiry finds that the event proceeded without a fire NOC or other mandatory permissions, additional action could follow under the applicable rules.
The incident involves two separate administrative checks: whether the civic body’s financial conditions for allotting the plot were met, and whether the venue had the safety clearances required for a large public gathering. The supplied report does not establish whether the event had received any temporary approval, whether the organisers had submitted documents that remained under process, or whether officials had formally authorised operations before payment was completed.
The immediate action reported by the AMC is the sealing of the municipal plot. The corporation’s investigation into the unpaid ₹40 lakh and the availability of the fire NOC will determine the next steps, including any responsibility fixed on the organisers or officials involved in the allotment and inspection process.
