According to the decision, a ₹500 fee will be charged for protests or demonstrations, while a ₹5 per square foot fee will apply for pandal setups.
Civic body’s justification: Maintenance and management costs
Mayor Meenal Chaubey stated that during protests, the corporation incurs expenses for cleaning roads, removing banners and posters, and managing traffic. She said the new fee structure will help ensure that protests are conducted in an orderly manner and that the civic body does not suffer financial losses.
In addition, organizations will now be required to inform the corporation about the protest route and obtain prior permission before staging any demonstration.
Organizations protest the move: “A blow to democratic values”
Several social and political organizations have strongly opposed the decision, calling it an attempt to suppress public voices.
Farmer leader Tejram Vidrohi said, “Imposing a fee on protests is like killing democracy. If people’s voices are stifled, the resistance will only grow stronger.”
Opposition groups argue that the common people already struggle to raise their issues, and such fees will further discourage their participation in democratic movements.
Fee may be increased to ₹1,000
Sources revealed that while the corporation has currently fixed the protest fee at ₹500, there are plans to increase it up to ₹1,000 in the future. The proposal has already been approved unanimously in the corporation’s general meeting.
Temporary ban on protests in Naya Raipur
Meanwhile, in Naya Raipur (Atal Nagar), a temporary two-month ban has been imposed on protests and demonstrations due to ongoing maintenance work. Raipur Collector Dr. Gaurav Singh has issued an order clarifying that no protest permissions will be granted during this period.
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