The Times of India           21.10.2013 

Civic body to auction 223 firecracker stalls

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) is planning to auction 223 firecracker stalls across six divisions in the city during diwali. The civic administration has already invited bids for the auction at its headquarters in Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday and Friday.

The firecracker stalls are to be put up at 27 locations across six divisions of municipal corporation in the city.

An official from the NMC said, "All 223 stalls are to be allotted through auction for the period of 16 days from October 27 to November 5. We have already invited bids for the auction. Those who have registered for local body tax (LBT) with the NMC and have LBT number will be eligible to participate in the auction. The auction for firecracker stalls in Nashik East, Nashik West and Panchavati divisions of the NMC will take place at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, while auction for stalls in Nashik Road, Satpur and Cidco divisions will be held on Friday."

Of the total firecracker stalls, 21 stalls will be at three locations in Nashik East division, 40 at two locations in Nashik West, 29 at 10 locations in Panchavati, 50 at two locations in Nashik Road, 33 at four locations in Satpur and 50 at six locations in Cidco division of the NMC. Participants will have to deposit Rs 3,000 before the auction and pay fire services development charges of Rs 1,000 to the fire brigade department after the auction.

The officials said that the firecracker stall holders will have to practice fire norms. Each stall holder will have to keep a 200-litre drum filled with water, ABC cylinder with 5 kg capacity, a bucket filled with sand and a board displaying a message prohibiting smoking.