Srinagar: Marriage ceremonies will not be the same again in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Government invoking today (May 25, 2004) the Essential Commodities Act (ECA) to prevent wastage of food at wedding feasts in the State.

The order re-invoking ECA empowers the State officials to regulate the number of guests and the menu at any marriage function in the State.

The ECA of 1955, which was notified in September 1973, has been re-invoked in view of the huge wastage of food involved in marriage feasts across the State, Minister for Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Taj Mohiuddin told reporters in Srinagar.

Under the new order, Government has approved cooking 45 kgs each of rice and meat for the marriage ceremony of one daughter and 60 kgs each of rice and meat in case two daughters being married off at the same time.

The bride's side has been allowed to invite 75 guests, including 25 'baratees', while a groom can invite 50 guests, Mohiuddin said.

The extravagance at marriage feasts has affected the supply-demand ratio for the food items, which resulted in rising prices, he said.

A special team of consumer affairs department and police officials would monitor all the marriage functions to ensure implementation of the new order, which came into force today, he said.

Those violating the order could face imprisonment up to three years, Mohiuddin said.