LAHORE, Feb 27: District Coordination Officer Mian Muhammad Ijaz has directed the city hotels not to organise Basant festivals without permission of the City District Government Lahore.

In a letter written to managements of the hotels, the DCO has pointed out that the Supreme Court had authorised the district governments to monitor the manufacture and flying of kites during the 14-day relaxation of ban from Feb 25 to March 10.

The hotel managements were required to seek the permission of the district government authorities for organising Basant festivals, the letter said.

The DCO also directed the town and police officials to form squads for monitoring the manufacture, sale and flying of kites within their respective areas, and send daily reports of the action taken, if any, against violators of the restrictions imposed by the apex court.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has conferred magisterial powers on executive district officers (revenue) and district officers (revenue) for enforcement of the provisions of the Punjab Prohibition of Dangerous Kite Flying Ordinance.