Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, Oct. 17: Police have clamped restrictions on the setting up of firecracker shops near residential areas and along main roads in the twin cities to ensure safety and prevent accidents.

Several police stations have been asked to list free space under their jurisdiction to set up these shops.

The police have put in place some guidelines for cracker shops. The cops will ensure that temporary cracker shops are at least three metres away from other structures and have at least 50 metres of free space in front of them.

"The doors of the shop should not face each other. The floor area of each shop should be limited to 10 to 12sqm. Under no circumstances should 50 shops be allowed in a cluster," said Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner Satya-brata Bhoi. Besides, the temporary sheds will be built either with asbestos sheets or tin sheets. No oil lamps, gas lamps and naked flame shall be used in the temporary sheds. The police have also restricted fireworks displays within 50 metres of these shops.

Cuttack deputy commissioner Sanjeev Arora said temporary licences would not be given to anyone for setting up cracker shops near residential areas under the municipal corporation limits.

"We have decided to issue temporary licences for setting up cracker shops only on vacant lands such as playgrounds. Police stations concerned have been asked to submit a list of available vacant plots and playgrounds in the next couple of days," said Arora. He also said there would be a blanket ban on the import, marketing and sale of hazardous crackers, including Chinese ones, which usually crosses the prescribed sound limit of 125 decibel.

Official sources said the police have earmarked certain areas, including the Bali yatra ground, for allowing firecracker shops under Cantonment police station in Cuttack. As a result, not a single shop will be allowed at Buxi Bazaar, near Chandi Mandir Chhak, Sutahat, and near Mission School. Besides, Debigada ghat along the Kathajodi embankment has been identified for allowing temporary shops under Purighat police limits. The Chauliaganj field has also been identified for shops by traders at Mahanadi Vihar, Sikharpur and nearby localities.

Applicants need to apply to the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police to set up cracker shops. The applicant also needs to get a no-objection certificate from the local police station, fire officer, assistant electrical inspector and municipal authorities concerned. Official sources said 411 temporary licences were issued by the police for setting up cracker stalls in Cuttack in 2015, while 703 licences were granted in Bhubaneswar for the same last year.

The decision to not allow temporary licences near residential colonies has evoked a mixed response. "The sale of firecrackers is a seasonal business and it provides livelihood to small traders like us," said Amit Jha, a trader from Buxi Bazaar in Cuttack.

"The fire cracker shops at busy market areas not only create traffic problems but also are a threat if there is an accident. The police should also ensure that these shops have adequate fire prevention and fire fighting measures in place," said Deepak Choudhury, a resident of Rasulgarh.