Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for opera (Jatra) troupes to stage their plays at Khandagiri Mela in the capital city here.

The fair will be organised near the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri after a gap of two years. It will commence on January 28 and continue for 10 days, BMC sources said.

As per the SOP, the orginising committee of the opera show shall ensure that the content of the play should not contain anything which is indecent. Besides, the contents should not disrupt the communal harmony and offend the religious sentiments of any section of people.

The opera troupes are bound to follow the Covid-19 protocol issued by the state government while staging their plays at the fair, said the SOP.

The organizing committee of the opera shows has been asked to adhere to the Covid protocol while making seating arrangements for the viewers. The BMC Deputy Commissioner for the Southwest Zone shall ensure that all the office-bearers, members and volunteers of the orgnising committee are fully vaccinated against the Covid-19, added the SOP.

The SOP made it clear that the organizing committee shall take the necessary steps to limit the sound of the microphone while publishing the content of the opera shows through moving vehicles.

“It is mandatory for the organizing committee to obtain safety certificate from the authorities concerned before installation of shed and stage for the opera shows. There should be adequate number of fire extinguishers inside the shed,” said the SOP.

The organising committee shall obtain necessary permission from Electricity department for power connection to the opera shows. Besides, the committee shall install adequate number of CCTVs in and around the opera shed for the safety of viewers, added the SOP.

“The organizers of the opera shows should arrange toilet and drinking water facility for the viewers and maintain cleanliness at the venue. They will remove the garbage and hand it over to the designated vehicles of BMC at the end of the fair,” said the SOP.

Notably, Khandagiri Mela could not be organised in 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.