Organisers of college fests who had obtained permission to organise the event at a particular venue will have to approach police again with a written undertaking for compliance with the new guidelines.
On Tuesday night, singer Krishnakumar Kunnath — better known as KK — died in the city shortly after performing at Nazrul Mancha that allegedly had an audience triple the capacity.
On Friday, the Kolkata police commissioner announced new guidelines for organising any public event.
A senior officer in Lalbazar, who did not wish to be named, said all organisers “new or old” will be asked for a written undertaking on printing and issuing of passes, deploying ambulances and doctors at the venue and identifying a hospital in the vicinity where people can be taken in case of emergency.
Surendranath College, which had procured permission in the last week of May to organise their fest at Netaji Indoor Stadium, had to defer their programme because the dates of the event clashed with a government programme on June 7 and 8.
“We were not asked for any written undertaking when we applied last month.... We got the police permission long ago. But now that the programme has been postponed and we are looking for new dates, I am not sure if we have to make a fresh application before the police,” said one of the college fest organisers.
Police sources said once they approach the police with fresh dates, the organisers will be asked for a written undertaking about following the new guidelines.
Students of South City College who went to Lalbazar on Saturday to seek permission for their upcoming fest on June 10 said the police asked them to return on Monday with a no-objection certificate from the authorities of the ground where the event is scheduled.
The college has planned to hold the event at Tanupukur Sporting Club Ground in Garfa.
“We didn’t realise we needed more documents. We will arrange the NOC from the local councillor and go to Lalbazar again on Monday. We will give the undertaking if asked,” said one of the student-organisers.
He said that the college was arranging ambulances and doctors for the event.
“We are complying with the pass printing and distribution rules. The ground has a capacity of over 6,000 but we will print only 2,600 passes so that there is no chance of any overcrowding,” he said.
