Delhi to soon limit guests and food at weddings

NEW DELHI: Soon, there will be a cap on the number of guests that hosts of wedding celebrations and other big parties in the national capital can invite.The Delhi chief secretary told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the government will frame a policy to put a limit on the number of guests and availability of food in such functions to prevent wastage and avoid traffic congestion.Taking note of massive waste of food and excessive use of water at lavish wedding parties and other functions, the Supreme Court had said it is “unacceptable” in a city which is witnessing drinking water crisis and even alleged starvation deaths and had sought the chief secretary’s assistance to address the problem.Appearing before a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, Deepak Gupta and Hemant Gupta , Delhi chief secretary Vijay Dev said the government shared the concern expressed by the court and a “balance has to be maintained between the requirements of the rich and the poor” living in the city. He said there is a unanimity between the Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor on the issue to discourage “vulgar and extravagant display” of wealth by the rich which caused public inconvenience.He said some alternatives are being discussed and a two-pronged strategy is also being actively considered so that availability of food and the number of guests at functions is limited. The chief secretary also said wastage of food and utilization/mis-utilization of scarce water resources is an area that is being considered by the LG as well as by the Delhi government and some arrangement should be made so that excess food is served to the poor through the help of NGOs.The chief secretary said a policy could be formulated within six weeks and the the management of motels and farm houses in and around Delhi would also be reviewed. The court thereafter set a deadline of January 31 for the LG and chief secretary to frame the policy.“The policy shall also explore the possibility of issuing a guest control order. In other words, a complete and comprehensive policy will be prepared by the Govt of NCT of Delhi and the Lt Governor so that there is no misuse of properties ... to avoid congestion including traffic problems caused due to these functions being held at these motels/farm houses,” the bench said.Referring to a July incident in which three siblings died due to starvation, the apex court had said that thousands of litres of water and tons of food are wasted during extravagant ceremonies while common people do not get safe drinking water and Delhi is logged in legal battle with Haryana over water supply.