The Delhi Government has drawn out an extensive plan and has initiated many initiatives to ensure safe and pollution-free Diwali in the city. Wary of hoarders and vested interests stocking essential commodities to jack up prices, the Government has launched a slew of measures to keep them under check. Several teams of Food and Supplies department have been put on the job to carry out raids against the sale of adulterated eatables. Government has also fastened its belts to ensure that Chinese crackers are not allowed to be sold across the city.
Those in the city administration say that the Government will invoke provisions of Explosives Act, 2008, which makes possession and sale of foreign-made explosives a punishable act. Guidelines have been issues to the retailers that their premises should be made of non-inflammatory materials and there has to be gap of at least three metres from each other and 50 metres away from any protected works.
Senior Government officials said that Chinese crackers are smuggled into the country via sea ports and according to a rough estimate over 700 such containers reach Indian shores via Kolkata and also from the porous Indo-Nepal border. The Government is said to have recently seized suspicious containers at various ports. The move was reportedly in line to save the country’s Rs 3,000 crore domestic fireworks industry. Action will be taken against the shopkeepers if they are found selling Chinese crackers. The people should also inform Government agencies in this regard too, the officials said.
Officials in the city administration said that it was for the first time when all the agencies, the Delhi Police, the municipal bodies and the city administration, will be joining hands to ensure safe and pollution-free Diwali in the national Capital.
All the departments of the Government have been drafted to launch an awareness campaign for safe and pollution-free Diwali, officials said. Education Department is in the process of writing to all the schools to launch awareness campaigns about the hazards of firecrackers while the Social Welfare Department is in the process of holding celebrations in all its welfare homes across the city.
Delhi Police has been also asked to issue an advisory to ensure that only those shopkeepers having proper licences issued by the competent authority are allowed to sell firecrackers in their respective areas. Any violation of this provision will be deemed contravention of the Explosives Act, 2008 and that will invite stringent penalty.
If one intends to sell only amorces and sparklers up to 100 kilo, then one does not require any licence. But those interested in selling mixed crackers even up to 100 kilo or higher quantity are required to have a fireworks licence. While the permanent licences are granted by the Additional Commissioner of Police, licensing, for sale of up to 100 kilos of manufactured fireworks, for sale of additional fireworks the permission has to be obtained from the Chief Controller of Explosives, Faridabad, only after receipt of the No Objection Certificate from the Additional Commissioner of Police.
Only those having shops in the commercial street or complexes, with a minimum floor area of 25 square metres and a maximum of 25 square metres, that too on the ground floor are entitled for the firecracker licence. It is mandatory for the licenced shopkeepers not to have any electrical apparatus or battery or oil lamp or similar equipment which could produce a spark or ignition. All the electrical wirings have to be effectively sealed. The shops have to be equipped with ISI certified fire safety equipment.