The Times of India        25.10.2013

Firecracker stalls auctioned in 3 divisions

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Thursday earned Rs 7.48 lakh through the auction of 61 of the 90 firecracker stalls in three divisions of the city-Nashik East, Nashik West and Panchavati.

Auction for 133 stalls from other three divisions - Nashik Raod, Satpur and Cidco divisions-will be held on Friday at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan. All stalls are to be allotted through auction for the period 16 days from October 27 to November 5.

An official from NMC said, "We have started auctioning 223 firecracker stalls across the six divisions. On Thursday, the average bid was Rs 12,262. The 29 stalls, which could not be auctioned on Thursday, will be included during the auction of firecracker stalls in other three divisions of NMC on Friday."

In the second phase on Friday, around 133 stalls from other three divisions- Nashik Road, Satpur and Cidco divisions are to be auctioned. The registration of local body tax (LBT) has been made compulsory for participation in auction. Those participating in auction have to deposit Rs 3,000 before the auction and have to pay fire services development charges of Rs 1,000 for each stall to the fire brigade department after the auction.

The firecracker stall holders will have to follow fire safety 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 the message of prohibiting smoking.