New Delhi: Five days after Delhi Police issued an order shifting protests from Jantar Mantar to Ramlila Maidan, Burari and CBD grounds, the progress in implementing it has been mixed. While MCD has drafted a revised standard operating procedure (SOP) for Ramlila Maidan, DDA is yet to finalise its norms for Burari and CBD grounds.While Ramlila Maidan will be available for free for protests after booking, a no-objection certificate (NOC) from police and a refundable security payment of Rs 5,000 will be mandatory.“The booking process for protests at Ramlila Maidan is open and can be done offline,” stated Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Organisers will have to visit City-Sadar Paharganj zone, submit a manual application on the letterhead of their organisation along with Aadhaar details and the NOC from police. “After the submission of documents, the deputy commissioner of the zone will clear it and dates will be booked,” it added.At CBD Ground in east Delhi, while the facility for online booking is available online on the website of Delhi Development Authority, the menu doesn’t include the category of protest or dharna. The site belongs to DDA and booking a plot of around 3,000 square metres costs Rs 1.8 lakh per day, including Rs 95,000 as security charges.“CBD Ground in east Delhi is booked for months as the site is leased out to event companies for marriages and other events. Dates for protests will be given only if there is no other booking,” said a DDA official.The booking fee for Burari Ground is not specified on the DDA website as the process is offline. A direction was issued last week only to list the place online for permitting temporary events.DDA sources said a file would be moved to the institutional land wing of the land disposal department for forming SOPs and rates for allocating both sites for protests. “Normal rates can’t apply for holding agitations, so new SOPs have to be formulated for them,” said a source.
