10 retail firecracker traders get licence

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 16

The district administration today released 10 licences to retail firecracker traders through a draw of lots.

Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha said last year, 51 licences were issued. As per the latest directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, only 20 per cent of the licences from the previous year were to be allotted. The number came to 10.

Meanwhile, traders who had already installed stalls and invested capital in procuring crackers, requested the administration to have a re-look into the matter. However, Sangha said since the directions came from the HC, they were bound to abide by it.

They lamented that on an average, each of them had invested between Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 2 lakh to set up their temporary shops.

They stated that the Amritsar Improvement Trust may refund their advance deposits, but not the cost of setting up stalls.