Ranchi: A proposed administrative exercise to relocate firecracker shops from the congested commercial-cum-residential neighbourhood of Upper Bazaar may be delayed further owing to questions posed by shopkeepers over the ground survey report prepared by the district last year.
The original deadline to shift hazard shops and godowns from the densely populated area expired a week ago.
District arms officer and nazarat deputy commissioner Rajesh Kumar Singh said in the wake of objections raised, the district administration had decided to form a two-member committee comprising the ADM (law and order) and state fire officer to examine the matter afresh.
Singh said some of the shopkeepers had alleged that the width of the road mentioned in the survey report has wrong. In places where the road is 40ft wide, the report shows only 10ft.
Some other shopkeepers have claimed that they ran their businesses in Pahari Mandir area and not in Upper Bazaar, but were still served eviction notices.
"The post of ADM (law and order) is currently vacant owing to the transfer of Girija Shankar Prasad. A new ADM is expected to be appointed by next week after which a fresh survey can be done. If shopkeepers have objections, the administration will address their concerns," the arms officer said.
In the last nine months, Upper Bazaar was surveyed twice to ascertain if it was safe to allow cracker shops to continue there. But, both reports categorically favoured shifting the "tinderbox" shops.
An insider claimed the powerful firecracker lobby was pressuring the administration to roll back the order.
"Upper Bazaar has more than 10,000 shops and godowns. The population is not less than 50,000 and daily footfall is 100,000, which doubles during festivals. Roads are very narrow and too congested for even a bike to move freely. And yet, relocation of shops is merely under debate," he said, hinting at lobbying.
According to a rough estimate, there are around 15 wholesale firecracker dealers in Upper Bazaar, besides 500-plus small-time vendors. During Diwali, the number of shops increases manifold.
Last year, the district administration had put a ban on temporary firecracker shops in the market. The order worked only on paper.
