Maharashtra government bans sale of firecrackers in residential buildings

Selling firecrackers in residential areas, public places and crowded sites will land you in trouble henceforth. Along with banning the sale of firecrackers at these places, the state government has asked all civic bodies to cancel the licence of shopkeepers who violate the rules and regulations in this regard. The move comes in the backdrop of a recent fire in Aurangabad firecrackers market, in which more than 200 stalls were gutted down.

In a circular issued to all civic bodies, the state government has said, “Action should be taken against those shopkeepers who are storing and selling firecrackers illegally. No permission should be given to store and sell firecrackers in residential buildings, public places and crowded places. The licence of shopkeepers should be cancelled for violating rules and regulations of the Explosives Act.”

According to state officials, explosion of firecrackers take place if proper safety measures are not taken in their storage and sale. Also, firecracker shops should be in open spaces to ensure minimum damage and storage and sale of crackers should be regulated.

Chandrakant Lasure, activist from Nashik, had filed a public interest petition in the high court pointing towards violation of rules in sale of firecrackers at residential buildings. In its verdict, the HC in October last month had asked the state government to ensure that strict action is taken against shopkeepers who do not adhere to rules and regulations. The HC had asked to cancel the licences of shopkeepers, who have such shops in residential areas and take appropriate measures to ensure that accidents do not take place in the residential areas.

“All corporations should constitute a committee in each ward for the purpose of inspection and re-verification of the licences that are issued to the shop owners and take appropriate steps with the help of police. The police should take appropriate steps to ensure rules and regulations framed under the Explosive Act are strictly complied with," the HC had said.

However, Sumaira Abdulali, Awaaz Foundation activist, has said that ban on sale of firecrackers in residential areas is not adequate. "Barring small crackers, the state government should restrict the use of firecrackers, which are available for public use. The firecrackers should not be used in urban areas at all as they are very unsafe and lead to air pollution, noise pollution, safety hazards, fire incidents, among others.”