PCMC Orders Crackdown on Unauthorised Firecracker Stalls
Only 33 of 68 applicants approved; ward offices directed to conduct joint inspections
PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has directed all ward offices to take strict action against firecracker stalls operating without a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire brigade and other mandatory permissions ahead of Diwali.
The civic administration has instructed officials to conduct joint inspections, prevent unauthorised sales and submit reports on the action taken.
The move follows safety concerns after a fire broke out at a firecracker shop in Kalewadi on January 1, putting patients in nearby hospitals at risk. Earlier this month, firecrackers brought for a shop inauguration in Rupinagar also caught fire.
Last year, thousands of stalls reportedly operated across the city, while the fire brigade issued NOCs to only 105 applicants. Temporary permissions are granted only to authorised shop units with permanent reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures and shutters.
This year, the PCMC has received 68 applications, of which 33 have been approved and 28 are being processed. The status of the remaining seven applications was not specified in the figures provided.
Allegations that municipal and police personnel collect money from unauthorised vendors have also raised questions about enforcement.
Venkatesh Durvas, deputy commissioner of the PCMC fire brigade, said ward officials had been instructed to conduct immediate inspections and prevent sales without the required approvals. Unauthorised vendors could face action, including seizure of materials.
