Around 200 traders have applied for no-objection-certificates (NOC) from the Dehradun fire service department for selling firecrackers during the Deepawali festival. Informing this, the fire station officer SP Mamgai said on Sunday that they are taking all the required measures to stop fire-related accidents during the Deepawali festival.
He said that any person can inform the fire service department on telephone numbers- 101-100 and 2716242 about any kind of fire-related incidents. “The officers would plunge into action once the complaints are received to douse the fire while ensuring minimum casualties in terms of human life and property. Besides, the department has issued an advisory to the people, cautioning them ahead of the Deepawali festival. We have stressed that a little bit of care and precaution can prevent fire accidents,” he said.
Mamgai said that around 200 firecracker traders having applied for NOC, the fire station officials will be deployed at the sites where the holders of the license for selling crackers issued by the department would do trade to see whether they are following the fire safety norms or not. Apart from issuing instruction keeping in mind of fire safety, NOCs will be released after conducting through verification of the place by the fire department officials where the firecrackers would be sold.
He said that they are fully prepared to take on any accident during the Deepawali festival. Around 10 fire tenders along with sufficient numbers of forces will be deployed at important places in the State capital to prevent fire accidents, he said, adding that teams of fire tenders will be stationed at Saharanpur Chowk, Premnagar, Clock Tower, Kotwali, Dilaram, Dharampur, Raipur and Doiwala to prevent fire incidents in Dehradun. Fire-fighting motorcycles and three fire tenders will be kept ready at the fire station office in Dehradun.
Meanwhile, DM Ravinath Raman said that license for selling fire crackers would be given for the demarcated places only. Selling fire crackers have been prevented in several areas like Paltan Bazar from Kotwali to Clock Tower, Dhamawala from Kotwali to Babu Gunj Aadat Bazar Chowk, Moti Bazar, Old Sabji Mandi to Hanumaan Mandir, Hanumaan Chowk, Jhanda Mohalla, Ramleela Bazar, Band Bazar, Anand Chowk to lakshman Chowk, Dispensary Road, Clock Tower to Chakrata Road, Chakrata Road to Mahumaan Mandir, Survey Chowk to DAV (PG) College road and Karanpur main market besides the narrow streets of the city where fire tenders cannot reach in case of emergency.
He had recently directed SDMs and other district officers to identity the places along with the local fire cracker traders, keeping in mind public safety.
DM stressed that the administration would soon clear the licenses, allowing the traders to set up temporary shops for selling firecrackers during Deepawali festival in the district. He further said that no license will be released in crowded areas and within 200 metre parameter of the areas which are sensitive to fire. license would be released for fixed period, he said, adding that action would be taken against the violators of the order. Following the direction of the DM, the process of procuring the forms seeking license for selling fire crackers from collectorate started on October 10.
A district official said that process of releasing license would start after the fire cracker dealers submit NOCs from the local police stations and the fire service department.