Fire department, cops to keep an eye on cracker shops

Allahabad: A team of three fire department teams will verify if authorised firecracker shops in the city are follwoing fire safety rules ahead of Diwali.

These shops have been set up at 15 identified locations across the city. Apart from these, over 300 vendors have been issued a temporary licences for setting up firecracker shops across Allahabad district for Diwali.

Chief fire officer (Allahabad) RS Mishra said, “If the teams find the shops are not following fire safety rules, they might cancel the trader’s licence with immediate effect.”

In Allahabad, firecrakcer shops are being set up at CAV Inter College ground (MG Marg), Bharat Scout & Guide Inter College campus (Mumfordganj), Colonelganj Inter college ground (Georgetown), Small Industry Centre field (Naini), Mundera Subji Mandi (Dhoomanganj), Lukerganj Durga Puja ground (Khuldabad), Dr K N Katju Inter College ground (Kydganj), Allahapur Ramleela ground (Allahapur), Baloo Mandi maidan (Teliyarganj), Kalindipuram ground (Rajruppur), DV Inter College ground (Meerapur), Radharaman Inter College ground (Daraganj), Alopibagh Ramleela ground (Daraganj), Sadar Bazar ground (Cantonment) and Civil Lines near BSNL building and would be allowed to operate for only five days — from October 24-28.

Mishra said that the department has mandated that these shops be set up at least 10 foot apart and should cut down on usage of cloth materials.

These shops are also supposed to ensure that there are no loose wires dangling and they stock up on adequate firefighting equipment like fire extinguishers, drums of water and sacks of sand.

“The team would ensure that no minor or someone with a history of mental illness is sells firecrackers,” Mishra added.

The 14 police stations in the city have been directed to keep an eye on firecracker shops under their jurisdiction.

SSP Satyarth Anirudh Pankaj said, “Vendors/traders have been asked to follow fire safety norms in all circumstances or necessary action would be taken against them.”