The COVID-19 has disrupted every industry in the world and the cinema hall industry in Assam is no exception. Hit hard by the pandemic, the owners of six cinema halls in Assam have decided to shut down. Of the six halls, four are in Guwahati. The cinema halls that are shutting down are Apsara Cinema Hall, Meghdoot, Urvashi and Vandana in Guwahati while Silver Screen cinema hall in Vijaynagar and Aditee in Nagaon.
The owners of the above-mentioned cinema halls have stated the that they will be suffering huge losses if they have to reopen the halls with only 50% audience as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the government.
“The expenses are higher than the revenue they earn due to the SOP issued by the government. The power dues have been a major challenge for the hall owners because operators have to pay a fixed charge for electricity consumption. Now, a penalty has been levied on them for non-uses of electricity. Eventually, the halls are not able to pay these dues, following which the power department has disconnected the electricity connection of around 15 of 78 halls,” said Chinoy Sarma, president of the All Assam Cinema Halls Owners’ Association