From this year, no civic property for setting up firecracker stalls

“It was made clear last year itself that no stalls will be allowed on PMC land. We have again sent a reminder to the association of firecracker stall owners that they should make their own arrangements,” said Sudhakar Telang, land acquisition and estate officer.

He said some corporators had objected to the decision, demanding a policy on the matter. “They pointed out that shifting of the existing locations could cause inconvenience to citizens… The civic body used to allow stalls on road connecting Mhatre Bridge and Rajaram Bridge, and in Dhanori. These plots are by the roadside; they encroach the footpath and also create a traffic problem.”

There is no other civic property where these stalls can be allowed as they require open space as a safety measure, he said and added that the stall owners should identify private land for setting up stalls. The civic body will permit these stalls only after checking the safety measures.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner and in-charge of fire safety department Pravin Ashtikar said the government had framed norms for firecracker stalls as per the Explosive Act 1983. “No firecracker stall will be given permission if they violate norms.”

Corporator Ujjwal Keskar said it was improper to disallow firecracker stalls on civic land. “The stalls are set up only for a few days and they should be allowed in the existing location. The civic body gets over Rs 75 lakh from it.”