Get ready to have a cracker of a Diwali, but don't forget the cracker norms, the authorities are telling all.
The East Singhbhum district administration, despite being tied up with panchayat poll nominations, will set up teams to ensure that fire safety norms are being followed at common sale points of Diwali crackers across the city.
The Dhalbhum SDO's office on Friday issued temporary licences to nearly 300 retailers of firecrackers identified on the basis of lists given by respective local urban bodies. The retailers, who will collect the licences on Saturday and can start selling crackers from November 8 to 12, have been asked to strictly adhere to fire safety norms, which bans fancy Chinese crackers.
"We have issued some guidelines related to fire safety like the retailers must keep ready sufficient amount of water, sand buckets and even small fire extinguishers besides using cotton cloth for putting up shamianas where the crackers will be sold. This apart, we will check if they are using tin sheds as roofs instead of inflammable materials and whether a safe distance is being maintained between the shops so that fire tenders can make their way in an emergency," said SDO Dhalbhum Alok Kumar, promising to conduct surprise inspections at the sale points across the city.
Based on the lists submitted by Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), Jugsalai Municipality and Mango Notified Area Committee (MNAC), the SDO has identified several points for selling crackers.
These include Circus Maidan in Golmuri, Baridih Durga Puja and Burmamines Durga Puja grounds in Baridih, Sidhgora Gadha Maidan, Sunday Market in Birsanagar, Ram Mandir grounds in Sonari, Ganesh Puja Maidan in Kadma, G-Town ground in Bistupur, Aambagan grounds in Sakchi, RP Patel High School in Jugsalai, Gandhi Maidan and MGM College grounds, both in Mango, and the ground near Bhalubhasa roundabout in Bhalubhasa.
Vendors found selling firecrackers in any area other than the specified ones will face the music with officials confiscating the stocks.
Apart from fire safety norms, the administration will not allow sale of Chinese crackers.
"We will also keep a tab on sale of Chinese crackers both in wholesale markets and retail outlets in keeping with a central government directive to all states to take action against shipment of fireworks from China. We have directed the wholesalers against stocking of Chinese crackers and will conduct surprise checks at the retail shops. Most of the crackers that are sold in the city are sourced from Tamil Nadu," the SDO added.
