Diwali slated on October 19, traders based in Dehradun have been directed to submit applications, seeking licence for opening firecracker shops at various places in the city. Firecracker dealers would be allowed to sell the items between October 17 and October 21.
Additional District Magistrate (finance and revenue) Veer Singh Budiyal said that licence for selling firecrackers would be issued for four days from October 17, adding that licence would not be issued for the areas which were kept out of the sale zone by the administration in the previous years. He said that the prohibited areas are Paltan Bazaar- Kotwali to Clock Tower, Dhamawala Bazaar-Kotwali to Babuganj (Aadhat Bazaar chowk), Moti bazaar-Paltan Bazaar to Purani Sabji Mandi and Manuman Mandir, Hanuman Chowk-Jhanda Mohallah, Ramleela Bazaar and Band Bazaar, Anand Chowk to lakshman Chowk, Dispensary Road area, Ghantaghar to Chakrata Road, Hamuman Mandir, Survey Chowk to DAV College area and Karanpur Chowk.
In addition, areas where fire tenders cannot reach easily have been demarcated as the prohibited area.
The interested traders can submit their applications seeking permission for selling firecrackers between October 9 and October 15, Budiyal said. “Apart from submitting application, affidavit and fixed challans, they would have to submit no- objection certificates from fire service department and local police stations for temporary license for selling firecrackers.
I have directed the sub-divisional magistrates to issue licenses in their jurisdictional limits. SDMs must demarcate open places before issuing licenses after meeting the circle officers and the fire service officers. Besides, the officers have been directed to collect identity cards and photographs from the traders before the licenses are issued. It must be ensured that the licensees take all the fire safety measures,” Budiyal added.