HYDERABAD: In a surprising turn of events, bar and restaurants owners, who met Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat on Saturday, showed no interest in applying for permission for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Bhagwat said, there were 50 representatives who had attended the meeting, but none showed any interest in holding a party to ring in the New Year.
“We received only one application from Ramoji Film City, whereas the rest said that they were apprehensive about people shelling out money for parties,” he said.
The organizers’ fear that following the central government’s demonetisation move, there could be fewer patrons for the parties.
“Given that there is very less liquid cash running in the city, many of these operators preferred not to host any party,” the commissioner said.
Adding a new element to the unfolding of events, members of the Telangana State Wine Shop Owners Association claim that the Rachakonda police limits was surrounded by state or national highways.
“Since the government itself, has not permitted bars to sell alcohol along the highways, they must not have approached the police for permission.The film city, witnesses a lot of turnout on December 31 so they can afford it,” said a member of the association D Venkateshwarlu.
He said that the areas that come under its limits house middle-class and lower income groups.
“So it is unwise for the shop owners to apply for permission. Even the people who have a debit or credit card, would choose not to spend the money ,” he said.
Only the three-star and above hotels host parties for the eve and most of which are located within the Cyberabad and Hyderabad police limits.
Organizers rue that due to cash crunch, sponsorships are tough to get.
“We used to have a lot of big and small liquor companies sponsoring such events until now. But this year, people are not even in a position to pay small amounts towards sponsorship,” said an organizer on condition of anonymity .
Although several websites have started selling early-bird tickets online for a few events, organizers fear that spot ticket buyers may not turn up in big numbers like before.
