Sale of firecrackers: SDMs instructed to notify locations
Chamba District Magistrate Mukesh Repaswal has issued orders under Rule 84 of the Explosives Rules, 2008, emphasising the need for strict monitoring of the sale of firecrackers during the Diwali season on account of the increased risk of fire incidents.
According to the directive, all Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) have been instructed to notify appropriate sites within their jurisdictions for the sale of firecrackers. Measures must be taken to ensure compliance with noise pollution and air quality standards, according to the directive.
The orders mandate strict adherence to rules 78-88 of the Explosives Rules, 2008, including following licensing conditions under Forms LE-3 and LE-5. Chlorate-based fireworks, except for colour matchsticks and roll-dot caps, are prohibited from being stored or sold in licensed firework shops.
Chlorate-containing items must be stored in designated compartments only, and fireworks containing lithium, antimony, mercury, arsenic and lead compounds are banned, while those with strontium chromate can be stored and sold, according to the orders.
The orders further specify that only authorised firecrackers with the manufacturer’s label and instructions for use as per Rule 15 of the Explosives Rules, 2008, should be sold and purchased.
Additionally, firecrackers should not be sold to minors without adult supervision.
Licensed fireworks shops are required to maintain an open emergency exit, and any open flame or smoking within the premises are strictly prohibited.
Sellers and workers must receive proper training on handling fireworks and operating safety equipment, including fire extinguishers and sand buckets, which should be available on-site at all times.
No temporary sheds or platforms should be constructed around firework shops, and loose wiring connections must be immediately fixed for safety reasons.
Boxes of fireworks, filled or empty, should not be kept in front of the shop.
Strict compliance with Supreme Court directives has also been mandated. Firecrackers are not to be used in silence zones, and adherence to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, is mandatory, with necessary action against violators as per legal provisions.
