NEW DELHI:The ministry of information & broadcasting will take steps to evolve Model Cinema Regulations, which could be adopted by the States. A delegation of the Multiplexes Association of India met the I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad here today and pointed out that the regulatory provisions in different States suffer from multiplicity, oblivity, subjectivity and archaic applications.
The delegation requested that the model cinema regulations framed in consultation with the industry should be applicable uniformally across the States. Prasad appreciated the need for uniform regulations and asked the FICCI to prepare a draft of Model Cinema Regulations, which could be circulated among all the States to elicit their views on it. He said, the ministry would then call a meeting of the States to discuss and finalize the Regulations, which may be adopted by the States.
Dr. Amit Mitra of FICCI, who led the delegation, said that Cinema Regulations of States, often conflict with development control regulations of cities, though both cover the same issues. They also do not recognise companies as applicants and licences are issued to individuals and are not transferable. He said that the location NOC procedure and criteria in many States is discretionary, construction permission is required from licensing authorities, cinemas are presumed to be stand-alone buildings and seat layouts aisle restrictions, screen distance, ventilations requirements, projection room, stair-case, electrical restrictions may be scrapped for safety reasons.